The number of people reported to authorities over concerns about extremism rose by 10% last year – up from a record low the previous year.

In total, there were 6,287 referrals made to the government’s Prevent programme between April 2019 and March 2020 – compared with 5,737 the previous year.

Of these, 1,487 were for concerns over Islamist extremism – a 6% rise from 1,404 in the year to March 2019, and the first increase for four years.

The number of people flagged up over fears of right-wing extremism dropped slightly – to 1,387 from 1,388 in the 12 months to March 2019.

A further 3,203 people were reported over a “mixed, unstable or unclear ideology”, while 210 were referred over other concerns, such as international and left-wing radicalisation.

With an annual budget of around £40m, the government’s Prevent scheme aims to stop people becoming terrorists.

It was launched after public bodies were placed under a statutory duty in 2015 to stop people being drawn into terrorism or supporting it.

Anyone concerned that someone they know might be at risk can refer them.

When authorities decide there is a risk that the person referred could be drawn into terrorism, they are then assessed as part of a scheme known as Channel and potentially taken on as a case.

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Engagement with the scheme is voluntary and it is not a criminal sanction.

Of the 1,424 cases examined by Channel last year, 697 were taken on as a case – the highest recorded.

Some 43% (302) were ones referred over concerns relating to right-wing extremism, with 30% (210) for Islamist radicalisation.

The figures show most referrals came from the police and education bodies, and that more than half of all those flagged up to authorities – 3,423 or 54% – were aged 20 or under.

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