Eight people a day referred to deradicalisation programme

Eight people a day are being referred to deradicalisation schemes as authorities identify a rising number of potential extremists at an increasing rate, new figures show.

Between June and August this year, 796 individuals - including more than 300 aged under 18 - were reported to the Government's programme for possible intervention, known as "Channel".

But what is the scheme and why has there been a significant rise?

  • What is Channel?

First started in 2007 and rolled out across England and Wales five years later, Channel is a key part of the multi-pronged national counter-terrorism programme.

It aims to provide support at an early stage to people who are identified as being vulnerable to being drawn into all forms of terrorism.

  • Who makes referrals?

Prison officials are among those who may refer people to the programme. Credit: PA Wire

Those working in public services dealing with vulnerable individuals, such as the education, prison and health sectors.

People who are identified as being at risk are assessed and around one in five are made to attend deradicalisation classes.

  • So what happens on the programme?

Details are mostly confidential but is believed support ranges from: mentoring, work on life skills, supervised or managed leisure activities, cognitive behavioural therapies and activities focused on employment.

  • How many have been referred?

There were more referrals between June and August than for the whole of 2012/13, new statistics obtained by the Press Association reveal.

  • Why has there been an increase?

Haras Rafiq, managing director at security think tank Quilliam, said the latest scale of referrals shows that "the lure of extremism has increased over the last year both from an Islamist and far-right perspective".

  • Does the scheme work?

The rise of Islamic State has contributed to the radicalisation of hundreds more. Credit: Reuters

This is hard to evaluate.

It came under fresh scrutiny last week when it was revealed that a 14-year-old boy - believed to be Britain's youngest terrorist - was referred to the voluntary initiative before he plotted a terror attack in Australia.

There have been high-profile terrorism cases in which individuals have been enrolled with Channel, but situations in which the scheme has successfully turned people away from extremism are less likely to come to light. For its part,

The Government says that hundreds of people at risk of being drawn into terrorism have been provided with support since Channel was rolled out nationally.

Kelly Simcock, Director of Foundation for Peace, a support group for victims of terror attacks, explains what factors can put people at risk of being radicalised: