Prevent aims to support people at risk of radicalisation. The NAO said evidence suggests it has a positive impact on many people it helps, although it remains difficult to show whether the programme reduces terrorism. Rising demand and more complex cases are putting pressure on the system. Increased awareness after the 2024 Southport attack may have contributed to the rise in referrals.

The types of cases have also changed. In the year to September 2025, 30 per cent of referrals were linked to a clear dominant extremist ideology, down from 73 per cent in 2017. Eight per cent fell into a newer category for people with no clear ideology but a fascination with extreme violence or mass-casualty attacks. The Home Office and Counter Terrorism Policing do not have a shared view of when these cases qualify for Channel support.

The NAO found that multi-agency Channel panels bring together expertise from policing, health, education and social care, but can face delays in receiving information from partners.

The Home Office underspent its £23.4 million Prevent budget by 28 per cent in 2025-26. It has underspent by an average of £5.6m, or 17 per cent, a year in real terms over the past six years. Funding for priority local authorities has fallen from £9.5m for 45 authorities in 2020-21 to £4.4m for 27 authorities in 2026-27.

The report recommends that the Home Office agree support thresholds with police, improve its financial management and strengthen oversight, performance data and evaluation.

NAO head Gareth Davies said: “Prevent is operating in an increasingly complex environment, with record referrals and changing patterns of risk.

“To build on the positive cross-agency work at the heart of the programme, the Home Office needs to strengthen its financial management, oversight and evaluation of the programme so it can build on what is working and ensure the programme is ready for the challenges ahead.”