One in three in anti-terror scheme are from Far Right

FAR-RIGHT fanatics account for one in three extremists put through the Government’s anti-terrorism programme.

They made up an increasing number of the 400 people supported through Channel – part of the Prevent de-radicalisation scheme – in 2016-17.

The programme intervenes to draw individuals away from violent extremism, offering them counselling by psychologists, social workers and religious experts.

Far-Right referrals increased by 74 per cent in 2015-16 – from 323 to 561 – with just over half involving under-1 s, according to National Police Chiefs’ Council figures.

In the eight years to March 2014, a total of 3,934 people were put in touch with the programme. Overwhelmingly, the cases relate to Islamist extremism and the scheme is credited with helping prevent more than 150 British Muslims travelling to join the Islamic State in Iraq or Syria.

But experts have warned of the risk posed by neo-Nazi groups in the UK after MP Jo Cox was murdered by extremist Thomas Mair in June last year. National Action, which championed Mair, was banned by Home Secretary Amber Rudd last December.

It was the first time a far-Right group has been placed on a Government blacklist under the Terrorism Act 2000. However groups such as the English Defence League have not been banned. At 37 per cent of all terror arrests to March, white people now also make up the highest proportion of suspects in 14 years. Arrests for ‘domestic’ terrorism - those not linked to or motivated by any group based outside the UK, such as IS - more than trebled from 10 to 4 .

Counter-terror police have said that while the threat is not of the same gravity as that posed by Islamist terrorism, there are extreme Right-wing groups attempting to provoke violence and sow discord.