Over 2,000 youngsters logged on terror radar as Prevent referrals go up by 20 per cent

The Government’s Prevent programme had 2,009 under-15s flagged up in the year to March, with 297 of those being girls.

More than half of those reported for possible de-radicalisation interventions were 20 or under.

The 12-month period witnessed 7,318 referrals, up by 20 per cent year on year, the Home Office statistics reveal.

Terror attacks in 2017 are likely to have been a factor in the rise, experts say.

There was a jump of 36 per cent in referrals sparked by right-wing extremism. Islamist concerns accounted for a larger proportion, though the number in the category fell by 14 per cent.

Of those referred, 42 per cent left the process requiring no further action, 40 per cent were assigned to other services and 18 per cent were discussed by a panel which monitors progress.

Security minister Ben Wallace said: “Prevent is tackling the threat of radical- isation wherever it’s found.”

But Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said a large majority of those referred “do not require any anti-terrorism procedures”.

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