The highest number of people on record were referred to the UK’s anti-extremism scheme in the year to March – with a 37% rise in right-wing extremism concerns, the latest data shows.

A total of 8,778 individuals were referred to the programme, the highest since records began in 2015.

That is a 26% increase from the previous year’s 6,922 referrals.

There was an increase in people referred for “extreme right-wing” concerns, as they accounted for 21% (1,798) – a 37% rise from 1,314 (19%) the year before.

That was higher than those related to “Islamist extremism”, which accounted for 10% (879) compared with 13% (913) the previous year.

Like every other year, the education sector made up the highest share of referrals, with 3,129 (36%).

However, this was a slight decrease from last year, when education made up 40% of referrals.

The second-highest share was from police forces (2,631; 30%), an increase of 37% compared with the previous year (1,921; 28%).

Referrals from local authorities had the largest percentage increase (54% from 582 to 895).

By contrast, referrals from the community and from friends and family were the only groups to show decreases, falling by 25% and 7% respectively.

Details on ethnicity were published for the first time.

Where referrals had ethnicity specified, 65% (2,747) were recorded as white, 19% (789) Asian, 8% (320) black and 8% (338) as other.

The data also shows a third (2,995) of Prevent referrals had at least one mental health or neurodiversity condition.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was the most common condition recorded.

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