Official Statistics

Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme, April 2019 to March 2020

Published 26 November 2020

Applies to England and Wales

This release contains Experimental Statistics on individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme due to concerns they were vulnerable to a risk of radicalisation. Following initial screening and assessment, referrals may be passed to a multi-agency ‘Channel panel’ where a risk of radicalisation exists. Chaired by Local Authorities, these panels determine the extent of an individual’s vulnerability to radicalisation and whether a tailored package of support is necessary and proportionate to address the vulnerabilities.

Key results

In the year ending 31 March 2020, there were 6,287 referrals to Prevent. This is an increase of 10% compared to the record low in the previous year (5,737 in the year ending March 2019).

The Police made the highest number of referrals (1,950; 31%), followed by the Education sector (1,928; 31%).

As in previous years, most referrals were for males (5,514; 88%), and over half of all referrals were for individuals aged 20 years or under (3,423; 54%).

The number of referrals discussed at a Channel panel (1,424) and adopted as a Channel case (697) continued to increase and were the highest recorded compared with previous years (highs of 1,328 and 556 respectively, in the year ending March 2019).

Of the 697 Channel cases, the most common were cases referred due to concerns regarding right-wing radicalisation (302; 43%), followed by Islamist radicalisation (210; 30%).

Proportion of Prevent referrals adopted as a Channel case, years ending March 2016 to 2020

1. Introduction

Prevent forms part of the Government’s wider counter-terrorism strategy, known as CONTEST. Prevent aims to safeguard people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. For more information, please see the following publications on the GOV.UK website: Prevent duty guidance, Channel duty guidance and 2018 CONTEST strategy.

1.1 Coverage of this release

This release contains Experimental Statistics on the number of individuals recorded as having been referred to and supported through the Prevent programme in England and Wales, from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. The statistics cover their journey from referral to adoption as a case, broken down by demographic statistics and geography.

Experimental Statistics are Official Statistics undergoing development. Work is underway to improve the level of consistency in recording Prevent referrals across different regions in England and Wales. More information about Experimental Statistics can be found on the UK Statistics Authority website. The Home Office aims to improve the quality of data recording and assurance procedures so that these statistics can be designated as National Statistics in future years. Please see section 5 Data quality for further information.

More detailed tables relating to this release can be found in Annex A. This includes data for Prevent and Channel in the year ending March 2020, annual comparisons between Prevent and Channel data for the years ending March 2016 to 2020, and historic Channel data from the year ending March 2013.

1.2 Identification and referrals

If a member of the public, or someone working with the public, has a concern about a person they know who may be vulnerable to the risk of radicalisation, they can raise their concerns with their Local Authority safeguarding team or the police for an assessment.

Staff working in public-facing organisations may receive training to help identify people who may be vulnerable to the risk of radicalisation, and what to do about it. Local Authorities, schools, colleges, universities, health bodies, prisons, probation organisations and the police are subject to a statutory duty through the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 to include in their day-to-day work consideration of the need to safeguard people from being drawn into terrorism.

1.3 Initial assessment

The police screen all referrals to check that the individual is not already or should be part of a terrorism investigation, as these individuals are not appropriate for Channel support. Prevent referrals that may be appropriate for Channel are recorded on the Police Case Management Tracker (PCMT). Once this has taken place, in many cases, the initial assessment concludes that no further action is required. In other cases, a person’s vulnerability may be assessed as not linked to radicalisation and they may be referred on to another form of support. All Prevent referrals are confidential and do not result in a criminal record or any other form of sanction.

1.4 The Channel programme

The Channel programme in England and Wales is an initiative that provides a multi-agency approach to support people vulnerable to the risk of radicalisation. For those individuals where the police assess there is a risk of radicalisation, a Channel panel chaired by the Local Authority, and attended by other partners such as representatives from education and health services, will meet to discuss the referral. They will discuss the extent of the vulnerability, assess all the circumstances of the case, and decide whether to adopt the individual as a Channel case. Cases are adopted in order to further assess the vulnerability, or to provide a tailored package of support where necessary and proportionate to do so. A Channel panel may decide that a person’s vulnerabilities are not terrorism-related and will refer the person to other forms of support. Information shared among partners is strictly within the terms of the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Home Office collects, processes and shares personal information to enable it to carry out its statutory functions as part of Channel. For further information on how personal data is stored and used for the Channel programme, please refer to the Channel Data Privacy Information Notice (DPIN).

The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 placed the Channel programme on a statutory footing and created a duty on each Local Authority in England and Wales to ensure there is a panel in place for its area. Statutory guidance for Channel panels was published in March 2015.

1.5 Providing support and leaving the programme

Participation in the Channel programme is confidential, and consent is obtained before Channel support is provided. Many types of support are available, addressing educational, vocational, mental health and other vulnerabilities. Ideological mentoring is common. Tailored support is provided based on the needs identified for an individual. The role of the Channel panel is to coordinate new activity through statutory partners and/or Channel-commissioned Intervention Providers (IPs), or oversee existing activity depending on what is most appropriate and proportionate for the case.

A Channel panel will, on a monthly basis, review the progress of an individual in the Channel programme. The panel decides a person will leave the Channel programme when there is no further risk of radicalisation. Support to address non-radicalisation-related concerns could continue in some cases and would be managed outside of the Channel programme.

The Local Authority or other providers may provide alternative forms of support to people who drop out of the Channel programme. In these circumstances, the police will manage any risk of terrorism they might present.

After an individual has left the Channel programme, their progress will be reviewed after 6 and 12 months. If the individual shows further radicalisation-related concerns, they can re-enter the Channel programme and receive further support.

Figure 1: Prevent process flow diagram

Source: Home Office

2. People referred to the Prevent programme

This section presents statistics on the number of referrals to Prevent due to concerns that an individual is vulnerable to radicalisation. It includes the sector of referral and information on how the individuals referred were assessed and supported, including those who required no further action, a referral to another service or were reviewed by a Channel panel for support through the Channel programme. In Figure 2, referrals received that ‘required no further action’ include but are not limited to: individuals already receiving support, those presenting a higher risk than can be managed by Prevent, and those who were found to have no vulnerabilities at initial assessment.

The data presented in this release represents activity recorded by the police and Local Authority partners. Although quality assurance is undertaken to confirm these numbers, the statistics rely on recording of information and so the overall completeness and accuracy of reported totals cannot be guaranteed. Please see section 5 Data quality for further information.

Throughout this release, the number of referrals reported includes a few individuals who had been referred more than once during the year ending March 2020. This information is included as each referral may not contain the same information (e.g. different sector of referral or type of concern) and may not have the same outcome (e.g. signposted to statutory partners, discussed at a Channel panel). Including multiple referrals provides a full picture of all support recorded and provided through the Prevent programme in the year ending March 2020.

2.1 The referral process

In the year ending March 2020, there were 6,287 referrals for 6,068 individuals due to concerns they were vulnerable to being radicalised (Figure 2).

Of these 6,287 referrals, 197 individuals were referred twice, 9 individuals were referred three times and 1 individual was referred four times. The police made the most referrals (31%; 1,950), closely followed by the Education sector (31%; 1,928).

Figure 2: Sector of referral and subsequent journey, year ending March 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 2

Notes:

1. ‘Other’ sector of referral includes employment, military and government (including Home Office Immigration Enforcement & HMRC), for example.
2. HM Prison and Probation Service.
3. The sum of ‘Required no further action’, ‘Signposted to other services’, and ‘discussed at a Channel panel’ do not equal the total number of Prevent referrals due to 15 open cases at the information gathering stage at the point of data collection (23 September 2020).
4. ‘Other’ services signposted to may include HMRC, employment, Home Office Immigration Enforcement and military, for example.
5. Individuals can be signposted after a Channel case has been closed to ensure that they continue to receive support for any non-radicalisation-related vulnerabilities.
6. Individuals can be signposted to statutory partners to address wider vulnerabilities depending on what the panel assess as being necessary and proportionate.
7. Percentages may not add up to 100 due to rounding.

Of the 6,287 referrals to Prevent in the year ending March 2020:

• 77% (4,848) were deemed not suitable for Channel consideration and exited the process prior to a Channel panel discussion; of which the majority were signposted to other services (65%)

• 23% (1,424) were considered for Channel support

• Ultimately, 11% (697) were adopted as a Channel case^{[footnote 1]}

Of the 3,163 referrals signposted to alternative services for support, they were most commonly directed to the Education sector (793; 25%).

Of the 1,424 referrals deemed suitable through preliminary assessment to be discussed at a Channel panel in the year ending March 2020:

• 727 (51%) referrals were not adopted as a Channel case; of these, the majority (439; 60%) were signposted to alternative services^{[footnote 2]} where the panel deemed the individuals to have non-radicalisation-related vulnerabilities. Those not adopted and not signposted at this stage may have either been found to have no vulnerabilities, appropriate support was already in place, or they may not have consented to support.

• 697 (49%) referrals were adopted as a Channel case, of which most (550; 79%) of the individuals concerned have now left the Channel process; 147 (21%) remained a Channel case at time of data extraction (September 2020).

Of the 550 referrals adopted as a Channel case in the year ending March 2020 that subsequently exited the process, 450 (82%) exited with no further radicalisation concerns. This can include individuals:

• who had a vulnerability to radicalisation addressed by a Channel-commissioned Intervention Provider

• for whom the Channel panel oversaw existing support already in place through statutory partners

• who were adopted as a Channel case to further assess whether a vulnerability to radicalisation was present and determine whether additional support was needed

The remaining 100 referrals (18%) were for individuals who withdrew from the Channel programme (90), or who were withdrawn because it was no longer deemed appropriate (10), although in some cases support from other services may still be in place. Any terrorism risk that might be present is managed by the police.

2.2 Referrals over time

In the year ending March 2020, 6,287 referrals to Prevent were recorded, a 10% increase in comparison with the previous year (5,737). As in previous years, the number of referrals recorded generally fluctuated across the year, with an overall decrease of 0.2% from the 1,575 referrals made in Q1 to 1,572 in Q4. As shown in Figure 3, referrals to Prevent have decreased each year in Q2 during the school holidays.

• There was a 7% increase in the number of referrals for individuals deemed suitable through a preliminary assessment to be discussed at a Channel panel (1,424 in the year ending March 2020, 1,328 in the previous year). However, the proportion of referrals discussed at a Channel panel remained stable (23% in the years ending March 2020 and 2019).

• In the year ending March 2020, 697 referrals were adopted as a Channel case following a Channel panel, a 25% increase (an additional 141 cases) in comparison with 556 in the previous year. However, similar to discussions at panel, the proportion of Prevent referrals adopted as a Channel case remained relatively stable (11% in the year ending March 2020, 10% in the previous year).

Figure 3: Proportion of Prevent referrals adopted as a Channel case, years ending March 2016 to 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 1

3. Demographics

This section reports statistics on the individuals referred to Prevent due to concerns about their vulnerability to the risk of radicalisation. Demographics (including age and gender) are reported according to their progression through Prevent as well as the type of concern raised by the initial referee.

3.1 Age

In the year ending March 2020, of the 6,287 referrals, the majority were for individuals aged 20 years or under (3,423; 54%) (Figure 4). Those aged 20 years or under also accounted for the majority of the 1,424 individuals discussed at a Channel panel (789; 55%) and the 697 individuals adopted as a Channel case (402; 58%).

This is in line with previous data since the year ending March 2016, as individuals aged 20 years and under have consistently accounted for most referrals, discussions at panel and Channel cases.

Figure 4: Age group from youngest to oldest of those referred, discussed at a Channel panel and adopted as a Channel case, year ending March 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 4

Age by sector of referral

The median age is the age of the middle person, when sorted from youngest to oldest. Using the median provides a good indication of the age of the ‘typical’ person referred by each sector.

Reflecting the demographic composition of the institution, referrals for individuals from the Education sector had the youngest median age (15). Referrals from the Community had the oldest median age (31). Median ages for the other sectors of referral were as follows: Local Authority (17), Friends & Family (23), Police (25), Other (27), Health (27) and HMPPS (30).

3.2 Gender

In the year ending March 2020, of the 6,287 referrals, the majority were for males (5,514; 88%). Males also made up the majority of the 1,424 referrals discussed at a Channel panel (1,273; 89%) and the 697 referrals adopted as a Channel case (625; 90%).

From the year ending March 2016 to March 2020, there were increases in the proportion of males referred (78% to 88%), discussed at panel (80% to 89%) and adopted as Channel case (85% to 90%).

Figure 5: Gender of those referred, discussed at a Channel panel and adopted as a Channel case, year ending March 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 5

Notes: The ‘Other’ and ‘Unspecified’ gender categories each accounted for less than 1% of referrals, Panel discussions and Channel cases.

3.3 Type of concern

Following the more balanced proportions between referrals for right-wing and Islamist radicalisation concerns recorded for the first time in the previous year, this continued within the year ending March 2020.

Referrals for concerns related to Islamist radicalisation increased by 6% in the year ending March 2020, compared with the previous year (1,404 to 1,487). This is the first year-on-year increase in referrals for concerns related to Islamist radicalisation since the year ending March 2016.

In contrast, the number of Prevent referrals for concerns related to right-wing radicalisation decreased by 0.1% in the year ending March 2020 when compared with the previous year (1,388 to 1,387) and has remained relatively stable within the last three years.

Figure 6: Prevent referrals by type of concern, years ending March 2016 to 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 6

Notes: Prior to the year ending March 2018, ‘Mixed, unstable or unclear’ referrals were categorised as ‘unspecified’.

Since the category of ‘mixed, unstable or unclear’ ideology was more clearly defined in the year ending March 2018, referrals for this type of concern have continued to increase. This category reflects instances where the ideology presented involves a combination of elements from multiple ideologies (mixed), shifts between different ideologies (unstable), or where the individual does not present a coherent ideology yet may still pose a terrorism risk (unclear).

The number of Prevent referrals regarding individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology increased by 48% in the year ending March 2020 when compared with the previous year (2,169 to 3,203). In contrast, referrals regarding individuals with ‘other’ radicalisation concerns decreased by 73% (776 to 210). Within the year ending March 2020, further guidance was circulated to Prevent stakeholders regarding individuals that may present with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology. The increase in referrals for this ideology type and the decrease in those with other radicalisation concerns may reflect increased understanding and better recording.

In the year ending March 2020, of the 6,287 referrals to Prevent, 3,203 (51%) were for individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology, of which almost half (1,521; 47%) had no concern identified following an initial assessment.

A total of 1,487 referrals (24%) were regarding individuals referred due to concerns related to Islamist radicalisation and 1,387 (22%) were referred due to concerns related to right-wing radicalisation.

The remaining 210 referrals (3%) were for individuals referred due to concerns related to other types of radicalisation. Although numbers were comparatively low, this includes concerns regarding international radicalisation groups and left-wing radicalisation, for example.

Figure 7: Type of concern of those referred, discussed at a Channel panel and adopted as a Channel case, year ending March 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 6

A total of 697 referrals were adopted as a Channel case and for the second consecutive year since comparable data is available (year ending March 2016), more adopted cases were for individuals referred for concerns related to right-wing radicalisation (302; 43%) compared to individuals with concerns related to Islamist radicalisation (210; 30%). The remaining adopted cases were for individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology (127; 18%) and other radicalisation concerns (58; 8%).

Figure 8: Channel cases by type of concern, years ending March 2016 to 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 6

The number of referrals adopted as a Channel case for concerns related to right-wing radicalisation increased by 21% from the year ending March 2019 to the current year (250 to 302), continuing the upward trend since the year ending March 2016. From the year ending March 2019, the number of referrals adopted as Channel cases for concerns related to Islamist radicalisation increased by 1% (208 to 210).

Likelihood of adoption as a case by type of concern

Referrals discussed at a Channel panel for individuals with right-wing radicalisation concerns were more likely to be adopted as a case (302 of 544; 56%) than those with concerns related to Islamist radicalisation (210 of 430; 49%) and a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology (19 of 44; 43%).

Overall, the likelihood of a referral being adopted as a case has increased for all types of concern since the year ending March 2019, except referrals for individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology. However, the total number of referrals discussed at a Channel panel and adopted as a Channel case for individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology increased substantially by 680% (45 to 351) and 535% (20 to 127) respectively since the year ending March 2019.

Age by type of concern

For individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology, those aged under 20 accounted for the largest proportion referred (1,853 of 3,203; 53%), discussed at a Channel Panel (308 of 544; 57%) and adopted as a Channel case (105 of 302; 61%).

For concerns related to Islamist radicalisation, the age of individuals referred was more equally distributed across the three youngest age groups of under 15 (351 of 1,487; 24%), 15 to 20 (361 of 1,487; 24%) and 21 to 30 (338 of 1,487; 23%). Those within the three youngest age groups also accounted for similar proportions of those discussed at a Channel Panel (111 of 430; 26%, 111 of 430; 26%; 93 of 430; 22%, respectively), and those adopted as a Channel case (56 of 210; 27%, 54 of 210; 26%, 53 of 210; 25%, respectively).

For concerns related to right-wing radicalisation, individuals aged under 20 accounted for the largest proportion referred (741 of 1,387; 53%), discussed at a Channel Panel (308 of 544; 57%) and adopted as a Channel case (175 of 302; 58%).

Gender by type of concern

For all types of radicalisation concern, the proportion of males referred, discussed at a Channel panel and adopted as a Channel case was higher than females. Referrals, panel discussions and cases for concerns related to right-wing radicalisation and mixed, unclear or unstable ideology were proportionally more likely to involve males (93%, 94% and 94%; 89%, 94% and 94%, respectively) than those related to Islamist radicalisation (81%, 81% and 81%, respectively).

Sector of referral by type of concern

Of the 3,203 referrals for individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology, the Education sector made the highest number of referrals (1,071; 33%). The Education sector and the police accounted for the majority of referrals discussed at panel (both 99 of 351; 28%) and the Education sector also accounted for the majority that were adopted as a case (42 of 127; 33%).

Of the 1,487 referrals regarding individuals for concerns related to Islamist radicalisation, the police made the highest number of referrals (566; 38%), followed by the Education sector (281; 19%). The police also accounted for the highest number of referrals that went on to be discussed at panel (138 of 430; 32%) and adopted as a Channel case (69 of 210; 33%) for concerns relating to Islamist radicalisation.

Of the 1,387 referrals regarding individuals for concerns related to right-wing radicalisation, the Education sector made the highest number of referrals (508; 37%), followed by the police (423; 30%). The Education sector also accounted for most of those discussed at panel (207 of 544; 38%) and adopted as a case (116 of 302; 38%).

4. Regional trends

This section reports regional trends in referrals for individuals due to concerns about their vulnerability to the risk of radicalisation. Geographic regions are reported according to their progression through Prevent and the type of concern raised by the initial referee. The geographic regions presented are those covered by Regional Prevent Coordinators (RPCs) and therefore within this statistical collection, the North East also covers Yorkshire and the Humber.

In the year ending March 2020, the region that received the highest number of referrals per million population was the West Midlands (130.8), followed by the East Midlands (124.9).

The region that had the highest number of referrals discussed at a panel per million population was the East of England (39.1), followed by the North West (35.6).

The region that had the highest number of referrals adopted as a Channel case per million population was the North West (20), followed by London (15.8).

There have been large fluctuations in the number of referrals, discussions at panel and adopted Channel cases within each region from the year ending March 2016. Please see Table 7 in Annex A for more detailed breakdowns.

Figure 9: Total number of referrals, those discussed at a Channel panel and adopted as a Channel case by region, year ending March 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 7. Office for National Statistics, Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2019

4.1 Region by type of concern

In the year ending March 2020, for concerns relating to right-wing radicalisation, the region that received the highest number of referrals per million population was the North East (33.4). However, the region that had the highest number of referrals per million population discussed at a panel (13.8) and adopted as a Channel case (7.6) was the North West.

In contrast, for concerns relating to Islamist radicalisation, the region that received the highest number of referrals per million population was London (46.3). London also had the highest number of referrals per million population discussed at a panel (12.3) and adopted as a Channel case (7.6).

For concerns regarding individuals with a mixed, unstable or unclear ideology, the regional distribution of referrals per million population that progressed to each stage of the Prevent Programme was more varied. The region that received the highest number of referrals per million population was the West Midlands (69.9). The region that had the highest number of referrals per million population discussed at a panel was the East of England (13.0), and the region that had the highest number of adopted Channel cases per million population was the North West (3.8).

Figure 10: Channel cases for right-wing radicalisation concerns per million population by region, year ending March 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 7. Office for National Statistics, Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2019

Figure 11: Channel cases for Islamist radicalisation concerns per million population by region, year ending March 2020

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme, England and Wales, April 2019 to March 2020. Annex A, Table 7. Office for National Statistics, Population estimates for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2019

5. Data quality

5.1 Data quality

As the data presented in this release is still newly established and subject to data quality issues (detailed below), these statistics are currently designated as Experimental Statistics. Quality assurance is undertaken to confirm the figures presented in this release; however, the statistics rely on recording of information by police and Local Authority partners, so totals cannot be guaranteed to be complete and accurate. Home Office analysts will continue to work with data suppliers to improve the quality of these statistics as the collection continues.

5.2 Quality and process checks carried out

These statistics are compiled by Home Office analysts who have worked closely with police forces to quality assure the data. These checks include:

• Identifying duplicate data.

• Ensuring the data provided are complete (for example, ensuring each case has originating referral details) and working with police forces to correct the data where possible.

• Querying contradictory data (for example, where the sector of referral recorded for the same individual differs within the Prevent referral information and the case details) and working with police forces to correct the data.

• Dip-sampling cases recorded to have received Channel support and comparing the recorded case statuses and outcomes with case information.

The preparatory and quality assurance exercises have shed light on various issues with the collection that limit how the data may be used or interpreted. Part of this work found inconsistencies in using case statuses and outcomes within parts of the data recording system, which has led to instances of inaccurate recording. Furthermore, a lack of consistency in recording final signposting was found. This has informed improvement work already underway, and it is expected the quality of these statistics will mature as the collection continues.

5.3 Improvements to data quality

As part of the steps taken to improve the quality of these statistics, Home Office analysts have worked with policy colleagues to develop further guidance and inform the updated training delivered to Channel Practitioners to improve consistency of recording. Furthermore, in preparation for the collection of data for future releases, updates and improvements will be made to the data recording system, which should improve the coverage and completeness of incoming data.

6. Further information

6.1 Changes to this release

In this release, the format of the accompanying data tables in Annex A have been updated in line with new legislation to increase the accessibility of our statistics.

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of our documents. If you find any problems, or have any feedback, relating to accessibility please email us at PreventResearchTeam@homeoffice.gov.uk.

The data tables have also been expanded to include previous years’ data (from the year ending March 2016) and filters have been added to allow users to view and extract the data as they wish. This is part of a wider programme of work to promote transparency and to improve and modernise our statistical releases. Within the notes section for the data tables, there are further instructions on how to use the filters.

6.2 Revisions

It is standard practice across all Home Office statistical releases to incorporate revisions to previous years’ data in the latest release. Corrections and revisions follow the Home Office’s statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

In this release, as detailed above, the data tables have been expanded to include previous year’s data. The data within the tables for the years ending March 2016 to March 2019 include any updates to cases open at the time of their original publication. Any further analysis regarding previous years’ data should be conducted using the data from the most recent published data tables, as these figures provide a more complete picture of the referrals and the subsequent support provided through the Prevent Programme in each year.

6.3 Uses of the statistics

Uses of these statistics are listed below using the standard categorisation for Official Statistics.

a) Informing the general public

• About the state of the economy, society and the environment – figures are made available to increase transparency around the Prevent programme and provide the public with an accurate source of information on referrals.

• About the activity of the police – figures are requested via Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests.

b) Government policy making and monitoring

Statistics are used to inform government policy by providing a national overview of how the programme is working on the ground.

c) Resource allocation – typically by central and local government

These statistics are used, alongside other information, to help determine the locations where the threat from terrorism and radicalisation is greatest, in order to allocate resources accordingly.

d) Third parties

These statistics are used by a range of third parties from civil liberty groups to academics.

6.4 Other related publications

Forthcoming publications are pre-announced on the statistics release calendar on GOV.UK website.

Previous releases of these statistics can be found here.

6.5 Feedback and enquiries

If you have any feedback or enquiries about this publication, please contact PreventResearchTeam@homeoffice.gov.uk.

The ‘Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent programme’ release is an Official Statistics output produced to the highest professional standards and free from political interference. It has been produced by statisticians working in the Home Office Analysis and Insight Directorate in accordance with the Home Office’s ‘Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics’ which covers our policy on revisions and other matters. The Chief Statistician, and the Head of Profession, report to the National Statistician with respect to all professional statistical matters and oversees all Home Office Official Statistics products with respect to the Code of Practice, being responsible for their timing, content and methodology.

1. An additional 15 cases were open at the information gathering stage at the point of data collection (23 September 2020). ↩

2. The sector that the individual is signposted to upon exiting the Prevent process may engage other statutory partners to appropriately address the concern for that individual. ↩