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More capacity for mental health referrals needed, warns senior counter-terrorism officer

On Monday, Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, urged expanding mental health services for violence-fixated individuals as Prevent referrals rose sharply since the Southport attack in July 2024 and are on course for a record this year.
Investigations show a rise in mixed or no-ideology cases, with 52% of referrals since January 2025 lacking a fixed ideology, and Taylor warned stretched systems may push vulnerable individuals toward violence.
Officials cite that Counter-Terrorism Policing has around 7,000 Prevent referrals already, with projections indicating potential growth to 10,000 in a year.
Taylor warned the system lacks capacity to manage complex cases and urged strengthening Prevent with specialist mental health practitioners and clinicians for proper interventions.
Official government figures on Prevent are due later this month, while Axel Rudakubana, Southport attacker, was referred three times but his case was closed, and Taylor said another attack is possible.

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