Number of people referred to counter-extremism Prevent programme over concerns about far-Right activity rises by more than a THIRD over past year
- Far-Right referrals to anti-extremism programme are increasing, figures show
- Islamic terror cases still outnumber right-wing concerns, but are falling
- Number of under-20s referred increased by a fifth on the previous year
The number of people being sent to flagged up to authorities over far-Right extremism has increased by a third, new figures reveal
More than 1,300 referrals the government’s Prevent programme based on concerns over right wing terror fears, up from 968 the previous year.
Experts believe the increase in referrals could be down to increased sharing and posting of far-Right material online.
Islamist concerns accounted for a larger proportion of referrals, more than 3,197 in total, but that number fell by 14% year-on-year.
Members of the neo-Nazi group National Action in Newcastle in 2015. The number of referrals over right-wing extremism to the Government’s anti-terror group has risen by a third
It comes after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by white supremacism Thomas Mair and the attack near Finsbury Park Mosque by Darren Osborne, who had been influenced by far-Right groups.
For the first time a similar number of individuals received Channel support for concerns relating to Islamist and right-wing extremism, the report said.
The government’s £40m Prevent programme aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Anyone concerned that someone they know might be at risk can refer them.
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The Home Office figures also reveal that thousands of children and teenagers have been flagged over terror worries.
In the year to March, 2,009 under-15s were referred to the Government’s Prevent programme, including 297 girls.
The number in the youngest age group increased by a fifth on the previous year, while over half of those reported for possible de-radicalisation interventions in 2017/18 were 20 or under.
Thomas Mair murdered Labour MP Jo Cox after becoming obsessed with far-Right material
The latest figures show that, of those referred to Prevent in 2017/18:
- 3,096 (42%) left the process requiring no further action.
- 2,902 (40%) left the process and were signposted to alternative services.
- 1,314 (18%) were deemed suitable, through preliminary assessment, to be discussed at a Channel panel.
In 2015, public bodies were placed under a statutory duty to stop people being drawn into terrorism.
The sectors accounting for the highest number of Prevent referrals in 2017/18 were education (2,462) and the police (2,364).
Regionally, nearly a quarter (23%) of those referred were from London, followed by the North East (17%).
While police and ministers say it forms a crucial plank of anti-terror efforts, Prevent has repeatedly come under fire, with critics labelling it heavy-handed and ‘toxic’.
Mair’s home in Birstall, West Yorkshire was filled with books and DVDs about the Nazis
Responding to the latest figures, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: ‘Literally thousands of people are being referred to the programme but the overwhelming majority do not require any anti-terrorism procedures at all.’
Earlier this month, Home Secretary Sajid Javid issued a staunch defence of the scheme, insisting it plays a part in keeping Britain safe by helping stop young people being preyed on by extremists and turning around hundreds of lives.
Last year it emerged that in one case, a nine-year-old boy was helped by the programme after standing up in class and declaring that he supported Islamic State.
Fresh questions were raised about Prevent after a wave of terror attacks hit Britain last year.
Darren Osborne carried out the terror attack near Finsbury Park mosque after reading anti-Islamic material online
Last month the Intelligence and Security Committee said Manchester bomber Salman Abedi should have been considered for a Prevent referral after his closure as an MI5 ‘subject of interest’ in 2014.
Parsons Green attacker Ahmed Hassan was discussed at nine Channel panels, the last of which took place 10 days before he planted a bomb on a Tube train.
Security minister Ben Wallace said: ‘Prevent plays a vital role in stopping vulnerable people being drawn into all forms of terrorism and safeguarding is at the heart of it.
‘The figures released today show Prevent is tackling the threat from radicalisation wherever it is found, including from the rise in the right-wing extremism.’
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