Figures released today cover the year ending March 2018, a
period likely to be affected by the five terrorist attacks that
took place in London and Manchester. They show a jump from
around 6000 referrals per year to over 7300.
Part of the increase relates to a significant rise in cases
where the type of extremism concern is mixed, unstable or
unclear. This accounts for nearly 2000 referrals.
The number relating to Islamist extremism is down by 14
percent.
Referrals from Community members is up by 29 percent, but from
friends and family the number remains low at just three percent
of the total. Police are keen to increase public understanding
and build confidence to encourage more people to come forward
and safeguard their loved ones.
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Prevent, Chief
Constable Simon Cole, says: “The Prevent safeguarding duty is
now well embedded within statutory bodies who are alert to all
forms of extremism. We have become more sophisticated in
identifying people where ideology isn’t the primary driver of a
person’s vulnerability and complex needs.
“However, all agencies need to work with communities to improve
understanding of what Prevent is and how it can stop vulnerable
people being drawn into terrorist activity.
“At a time when we are dealing with a record number of CT
investigations, it is far better to stop a loved one getting
drawn into criminal activity in the first place.
"These statistics show that every single day, 20 people are
contacting us with their concerns, trusting we will respond
proportionally and with sensitivity.
“Families and friends are often best placed to spot the changes
in a person that could indicate they are being influenced by
dangerous radicalisers.
“An early intervention to the many partners that support the
Prevent programme could stop someone they care about becoming
the subject of one of the 700 investigations CT Policing is
currently managing.
“Our research shows that police are trusted and that people
would come to us if they had concerns. But we need to do more
to spell out what the warning signs are and what friends and
family can do to help.”
The full set of statistics published by the Home Office, for
the year ending 30 March 2018, can be seen here.
