London, UK – November 6, 2025 – New data from the Home Office has revealed a 27% increase in referrals to the Prevent programme during the 2024/25 period, marking the highest level ever recorded. With a total of 8,778 referrals, up from 6,922 the previous year, the surge in cases highlights the growing concerns over extremism in the UK and the effectiveness of the government’s counter-terrorism strategies.
Breakdown of Referrals: A Shift in Trends
The Prevent programme is part of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy aimed at intervening early to stop individuals from becoming involved in extremism. The latest statistics indicate a notable shift in the nature of extremism being flagged:
- Right-wing extremism emerged as the largest category, accounting for 42% of cases that were referred and taken further for investigation. This is an increase from 19% the previous year.
- Islamist extremism represented 15% of referrals, a decrease from the previous year’s 13%.
- The largest number of overall referrals were categorized as “no-ideology”, yet this group had the lowest rate of cases being pursued further, at just 7%.
Despite these shifts, the Prevent programme continues to see a rise in the number of referrals, particularly in education and police sectors.
Demographics and Trends
The data provides valuable insight into the demographics of those referred:
- Sex: Of the individuals whose sex was known, 89% were male (7,605 individuals).
- Ethnicity: In terms of ethnicity, 65% of those referred were white, 19% were Asian, 8% were Black, and 8% were categorized as other ethnicities.
- Age: The largest proportion of referrals came from individuals aged 11 to 15, representing 36% of cases.
The Role of the Education Sector and Police
The education sector accounted for 36% of the total referrals, maintaining its trend as the largest contributor to Prevent. Since data collection began, education has consistently been responsible for around a third of all referrals.
Additionally, referrals from police forces saw a 37% increase this year, now making up 30% of the total. The rise in police referrals highlights increased vigilance and proactive intervention by law enforcement.
Impact of the Southport Attack
One of the key factors behind the surge in referrals this year appears to be the heightened awareness following the Southport attack. In the period following this attack, there was a 34% increase in referrals compared to the previous year. This is indicative of a more heightened sense of vigilance within the public, with more individuals being flagged for potential risk.
The attack also led to an increase in cases being taken further, suggesting that the increased awareness was effective in identifying individuals at risk of radicalization.
New Category Introduced
For the first time, the Prevent programme recorded a new category: “fascination with extreme violence or mass casualty attacks (where no other ideology is present)”. This accounted for 5% of referrals. The introduction of this category reflects a growing concern about individuals being drawn to violent ideologies without any clear affiliation with specific extremist groups.
Conclusion: Ongoing Efforts to Counter Extremism
The 2024/25 figures suggest that Prevent is becoming a more robust tool in identifying potential threats across various sectors. Despite the rise in referrals, questions remain about the effectiveness of the programme in preventing radicalization and whether the increase in referrals reflects real progress or just heightened public vigilance.
The Home Office continues to encourage public involvement in counter-terrorism efforts, with more than 8,700 referrals this year alone. As the programme adapts to changing dynamics, officials hope to better understand the root causes of extremism and ensure timely interventions to safeguard national security.
This story may be updated as more information becomes available.
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