More suspected far-right extremists were referred to the UK government's anti-terrorism programme Prevent last year than those suspected of Islamist extremism, according to annual figures released on Thursday.
Total referrals reached a record high of 8,778 in the year to March 2025, a 27% increase from the previous year and the highest since records began a decade ago. Of referrals where ideology was specified, 21% (1,798 cases) were linked to extreme rightwing concerns, compared with 10% (870) linked to Islamist ideology. Over half (56%, or 4,917 referrals) had no identified ideology.
The figures also showed a notable rise in referrals related to “fascination with extreme violence or mass casualty attacks (where no other ideology)”, which accounted for 5% (469) of referrals. This category saw a 240% increase in the January–March 2025 quarter compared with the previous quarter.
Just over a third of referrals had at least one mental health or neurodiversity condition recorded, with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) being the most common, present in 14% of cases. The data comes after counter-terrorism officials reported a significant increase in referrals following the Southport murders in July 2024, where the attacker, Axel Rudakubana, had been referred to Prevent three times but not deemed at risk due to a lack of fixed ideology.
Of those referred, 1,727 were discussed at a multi-agency Channel panel, and 1,472 were adopted as Channel cases. Individuals aged 11 to 15 made up 39% of adopted cases.
