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| Hundreds of children under 10 were 'at risk of extremism' in one year | Hundreds of children under 10 were 'at risk of extremism' in one year |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| More than 350 children under the age of 10 have been reported for being ‘at risk of extremism’ in just one year. | More than 350 children under the age of 10 have been reported for being ‘at risk of extremism’ in just one year. |
| The youngsters were earmarked for possible intervention by the Government’s Channel mentoring programme, it has been revealed. | The youngsters were earmarked for possible intervention by the Government’s Channel mentoring programme, it has been revealed. |
| In total, 4,611 people were referred in the 12 months to June – a 75% increase compared with the previous year, when there were 2,632. | In total, 4,611 people were referred in the 12 months to June – a 75% increase compared with the previous year, when there were 2,632. |
| Of those 4,611, about half – 2,311 - were 18 or younger, the figures obtained by the Press Association under freedom of information rules showed. | |
| The increase follows the introduction of a controversial requirement on local councils, schools, health services, prisons and the police to report anyone voicing extremist views or considered vulnerable to radicalisation. | The increase follows the introduction of a controversial requirement on local councils, schools, health services, prisons and the police to report anyone voicing extremist views or considered vulnerable to radicalisation. |
| Each case is assessed and can then be referred to Channel, a one-to-one mentoring programme, as part of the overall Prevent strategy. | Each case is assessed and can then be referred to Channel, a one-to-one mentoring programme, as part of the overall Prevent strategy. |
| The strategy was set up after the July 7 bombings in 2005, to tackle violent and non-violent extremism, from Islamists to neo-Nazis. | The strategy was set up after the July 7 bombings in 2005, to tackle violent and non-violent extremism, from Islamists to neo-Nazis. |
| The requirement has been criticised as a threat to attempts to build closer community links and dialogue if it is used to target innocent acts, especially by young people. | The requirement has been criticised as a threat to attempts to build closer community links and dialogue if it is used to target innocent acts, especially by young people. |
| The figures, released by the National Police Chiefs Council, showed there were 2,311 referrals relating to under-18s - an increase of 83 per cent on the previous year. | The figures, released by the National Police Chiefs Council, showed there were 2,311 referrals relating to under-18s - an increase of 83 per cent on the previous year. |
| Of that total, 970 were between 15 and 17 years old, 989 were aged ten to 14 and 352 of the children were nine or younger. | Of that total, 970 were between 15 and 17 years old, 989 were aged ten to 14 and 352 of the children were nine or younger. |
| In the year after the Prevent duty took effect, school referrals rose to 1,121, more than double the 537 in the previous year. | In the year after the Prevent duty took effect, school referrals rose to 1,121, more than double the 537 in the previous year. |
| Engagement with Channel is voluntary and it is not a criminal sanction. Not all referrals are ultimately deemed to require intervention. | Engagement with Channel is voluntary and it is not a criminal sanction. Not all referrals are ultimately deemed to require intervention. |
| Jonathan Russell, from Quilliam, the counter extremism think tank, told The Times that the rise in referrals could be because of the “increased visibility” of Isis. | Jonathan Russell, from Quilliam, the counter extremism think tank, told The Times that the rise in referrals could be because of the “increased visibility” of Isis. |
| He said: “The important thing to note is that trained professionals think an increasing number of young people are vulnerable to radicalisation.” | He said: “The important thing to note is that trained professionals think an increasing number of young people are vulnerable to radicalisation.” |
| Russell Hobby, general secretary of the headteachers' union NAHT, said: “We need to ensure that training for teachers is provided to make sure that they are able to fulfil their duties and to ensure that referrals are appropriate.” | Russell Hobby, general secretary of the headteachers' union NAHT, said: “We need to ensure that training for teachers is provided to make sure that they are able to fulfil their duties and to ensure that referrals are appropriate.” |
| A spokesman for the Home Office said: "We have a duty to challenge, at every turn, the twisted narrative that has exploited some of our vulnerable young people. | A spokesman for the Home Office said: "We have a duty to challenge, at every turn, the twisted narrative that has exploited some of our vulnerable young people. |
| “We will continue to work with communities of all backgrounds to challenge those who spread hatred.” | “We will continue to work with communities of all backgrounds to challenge those who spread hatred.” |
| In 2015 about 70 per cent of referrals to Channel were linked to Islamist-related extremism and roughly 15 per cent to far-right extremism. | In 2015 about 70 per cent of referrals to Channel were linked to Islamist-related extremism and roughly 15 per cent to far-right extremism. |