The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a new report on children referred to Prevent – the government’s counter extremism programme. The report is based on analysis of Home Office data and interviews with professionals. Key findings show: Prevent has seen a substantial rise in referrals for children in England and Wales; professionals are concerned that children are being drawn into radicalisation and violence fascination online; the majority of children referred to Prevent do not progress to an intervention; and many children are referred back to the service that made the referral when their cases are closed. Recommendations focus on tackling online drivers of harm, developing a new pathway for children at risk of committing violence; and improvements in data recording.
Read the press release: Press notice: violence-fixated children referred to Prevent, and then sent back again – Children’s Commissioner demands reform of anti-extremism programme
Read the report: Children referred to the Prevent programme
