‘Thousands’ of children flagged up for extremism

Nearly 150 people in Wales were referred to the UK Government’s anti-terror programme, official figures show.

In the first detailed Home Office analysis of the Prevent programme, figures show 148 people were deemed at risk. And 31 people were given special support, through a scheme known as Channel. Engagement with Channel is voluntary and is not a criminal sanction.

Across the UK analysis of Prevent reveals that 2,127 of those referred to the scheme in 2015-16 were under 15, including more than 500 girls.

In one case a nine-year-old boy from west London was helped by the programme after standing up in class at school and declaring that he supported Islamic State. He had found and watched IS execution videos online.

Another 2,147 individuals reported for potential intervention over extremism concerns were aged between 15 and 20, meaning more than half of the 7,631 people referred in the 12 months to March 2016 were aged 20 or under.

The Prevent programme aims to reduce the threat to the UK by stopping people being drawn into terrorism. It has an annual budget of around £40m and forms part of the Government’s overarching counterterror strategy known as Contest, which was drawn up in 2003.

Anyone who is concerned about a person they think may be at risk of radicalisation can refer them to Prevent, but only a very small percentage of referrals are ultimately deemed to require anti-extremism intervention.

The new Home Office report on the 7,631 referrals to Prevent in 2015-16 shows:

2,766 (36%) left the process requiring no further action.

3,793 (50%) were “signposted” to alternative services.

1,072 (14%) were assessed as suitable to be discussed at a multi-agency Channel panel.

Of the cases examined by Channel, 381 subsequently received support through the programme, including 108 who were under 15.

The Home Office said that of those who left the Channel process, more than four in five were judged to have had their vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism reduced.

However, 63, or one in six, withdrew from the process – although officials stressed that any ongoing terrorism risk is managed by police.

Security minister Ben Wallace said Channel “has seen real results in helping divert people away from terrorism and violence”, adding: “The programme is helping to save lives and keep us safe.”

Prevent is aimed at all forms of extremism. Almost 5,000, or just under two-thirds, of referrals in 2015-16 related to concerns about Islamist extremism, while 759 (10%) were linked to right-wing extremism.

Of the 4,997 referred over Islamist extremism, three in 10 were under 15, the data shows.

The largest proportion referred in relation to Islamist concerns were from London, at 28%, while the highest percentage for right-wing extremism was the North-East, at 21%.

Prevent has come under fire, with critics labelling it heavy-handed and “toxic” amid claims it unfairly focuses on Muslims, but police and ministers say it is a crucial plank of wider counter-extremism efforts.