The government's counter-extremism programme, Prevent, is unable to address the growing number of children referred who are "fixated on violence without a clear ideology", according to Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza. Referrals of children to Prevent have increased over the past decade, from 2,918 in 2016-17 to 4,715 in 2024-25.
Dame Rachel noted that most children referred do not align with traditional forms of extremism and are often sent back to schools without further action. She highlighted the need for "stronger safeguarding" for this group.
The commissioner's report follows the deaths of three girls in Southport in July 2024, whose attacker had been referred to Prevent three times due to an interest in terrorist attacks and school shootings, but his case was closed as he lacked a clear ideology. The second phase of the Southport Inquiry is examining how to manage individuals who pose a risk of extreme violence without a primary ideological driver.
Dame Rachel has recommended that referrals currently going to Prevent should instead go through local multi-agency safeguarding teams, which could include counter-terror police when necessary. This would allow children to be directed towards Prevent interventions or other appropriate safeguarding responses. The government has stated it is reviewing the report and developing further options to manage those fascinated with extreme violence.