Statistics from a British National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) report reveal that 415 children aged 10 and under have been referred to the government’s deradicalization programs in England and Wales over the last four years, and that a further 1,424 children aged 11-15 were also referred.
The “Channel” programs, set up after the 7 July London bombings, aim to steer young people away from extremism.
The government claims the scheme has successfully deradicalized people, but the NPCC figures obtained by the BBC under a Freedom of Information request show a total of 1,839 children aged 15 and under had been referred over concerns they were at risk of Islamist radicalization between January 2012 and December 2015.
The figures show referrals are rising year by year.