Record 6,085 children referred to Prevent anti-extremism scheme

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 13:32 · Archive

A record 6,085 children under 18 were referred to the Prevent anti-extremism scheme in 2025, according to National Police Chiefs' Council data obtained by the Conservative Party through freedom of information requests. This represents a nearly threefold increase from 2,129 referrals in 2020 and exceeds the previous peak of 4,116 in 2023.

New categories were introduced in 2025 to record referrals, reflecting emerging patterns. These included 'fascination with extreme violence' (39 cases), 'fascination with mass casualty attacks' (19 cases) and 'fascination with school massacres' (15 cases). The last category had recorded only one previous case when first used in 2023. Children were also referred over unhealthy interests in conflicts in Israel, Palestine and Iran.

Online activity emerged as the primary radicalising influence in over 1,700 referrals, with gaming accounting for 58 additional cases. Media exposure prompted 121 referrals, while extremist or terrorist organisations were behind 51 cases. The pattern suggests young people are being referred over fascinations with violence for its own sake rather than for ideological or political causes.

How it is being reported

• Record 6,000 children referred to anti-terror scheme as UK faces terrifying surge in youth extremismMore than 6,000 children were referred to the anti-terror Prevent scheme last year, staggering new data has revealed. Uncovered by the Daily Mail, a record number of under-18s were referred to the scheme over concerns for their "obsession" with "violence and extremism". The latest figures show 6,085 children were referred to the programme last year, a threefold increase from the 2,129 cases logged in 2020. The data was obtained by the Conservative Party through freedom of information requests to the National Police Chiefs' Council. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Referrals in 2023 climbed…GB News · 27 Oct, 13:17
• Record 6,000 children are referred to Prevent as obsession with violence and extremism surgesOfficial police figures show 6,085 under-18s were scrutinised by the Prevent scheme in 2025 after concerns were raised about their obsession with violence and extremism.Daily Mail · 26 Oct, 22:28

In this story: Prevent · National Police Chiefs' Council · Conservative Party · Israel · Palestine · Iran

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