Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
7th Report – Combatting new forms of extremism
Home Affairs Committee
HC 903
Published 1 April 2026
Government response
1st Special Report - Combatting new forms of extremism: Government Response · published 11 Jun 2026
Recommendations & Conclusions
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Extremism is evolving rapidly and becoming more complex.
Conclusion
Extremism is evolving rapidly and becoming more complex. Long-standing terrorist threats remain but new forms of extremism are emerging and give rise to growing concern. The impact of geo-political events is likely to intensify in light of continuing conflict in …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the evolving nature of extremism and commits to publishing its first 'State of Extremism' report by the end of 2026, alongside increasing analytical resources for horizon scanning to identify and share information on emerging threats with partners.
Home Office
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2
Conclusion
Accepted in Part
Good policy making relies upon data and evidence.
Conclusion
Good policy making relies upon data and evidence. At the moment the UK lacks the evidence base and up-to-date research needed to keep pace with these developments. The impediments to supporting rigorous, independent empirical research have limited our understanding of …
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Government Response Summary
The government is working with DSIT on children's online wellbeing, highlighting the Online Safety Act and its enforcement to counter harmful content. While much of the response focuses on online safety and operational measures against 'Com networks', it notes that a police-led taskforce's Prevent board is undertaking 'research commissioning' to address emerging online threats.
Home Office
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3
Recommendation
Not Addressed
We recommend that the Home Office establishes a coherent, long-term research and evidence programme on...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Home Office establishes a coherent, long-term research and evidence programme on emerging forms of extremism. It should ensure that sufficient support and resources are available to enable independent, empirical research to be commissioned, whether by the …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response focuses on strengthening media literacy and the Home Office's regular provision of analysis on terrorist propaganda to inform partners, but does not commit to establishing the recommended long-term, independent research and evidence programme.
Home Office
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4
Conclusion
Not Addressed
Harmful extremist content is circulating widely online, driven by engagement and profit-maximising algorithms, influencer-led dissemination,...
Conclusion
Harmful extremist content is circulating widely online, driven by engagement and profit-maximising algorithms, influencer-led dissemination, and decentralised extremist ecosystems. These systems promote content designed to provoke outrage and fear, often purely for commercial reasons, and the speed and scale of …
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Government Response Summary
The government's response outlines new Prevent guidance and updated training packages, including a refresh over the next year to reflect current threats. However, it does not directly address the committee's observation regarding the specific online mechanisms (algorithms, decentralised networks) or the need for a coordinated cross-government approach to tackling online extremist content.
Home Office
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5
Recommendation
Accepted
The Online Safety Act contains gaps that limit government’s ability to address new forms of...
Recommendation
The Online Safety Act contains gaps that limit government’s ability to address new forms of extremism, particularly when harmful content falls below criminal thresholds. We are concerned that smaller, high-risk platforms are not receiving sufficient regulatory scrutiny. Alongside more robust …
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Government Response Summary
The government states it is already working with the education sector and national partners, providing resources on the Educate Against Hate website, and that the Prevent duty is a vital tool for safeguarding children.
Home Office
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6
Recommendation
Accepted
The Home Office should engage more closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology...
Recommendation
The Home Office should engage more closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ofcom to ensure effective implementation of measures around online safety for children and to ensure that extremist content is among the types of online …
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Government Response Summary
The Home Office is working closely with DSIT on the Children Online Wellbeing consultation and highlights the Online Safety Act's legal duties on providers to remove illegal content, including extremist material, with Ofcom as regulator. It also describes extensive ongoing multi-agency efforts, including a police-led taskforce, to disrupt online networks and address radicalisation, while continuously reviewing the legal framework for emerging threats.
Home Office
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7
Recommendation
Accepted
We welcome the inclusion of enhanced digital and media literacy in the new curriculum.
Recommendation
We welcome the inclusion of enhanced digital and media literacy in the new curriculum. It should be embedded consistently across education settings and equip children with the skills to identify, analyse and scrutinise online 53 content, including the operation of …
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Government Response Summary
The government has committed to strengthening media literacy in the curriculum, published a Media Literacy Action Plan, and confirmed it will develop teacher training on counter-extremism media literacy. The Home Office also regularly provides analysis to the Department for Education to ensure educational materials keep pace with evolving online extremist tactics, including Generative AI.
Home Office
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8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The escalation in Prevent referrals involving no clear ideology and no clear signs of radicalisation...
Conclusion
The escalation in Prevent referrals involving no clear ideology and no clear signs of radicalisation to terrorism represents a significant challenge to a system designed to address the ideological roots of terrorism. Prevent and Channel are becoming saturated with such …
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Government Response Summary
The government agrees that ideology is not mandatory for a Prevent referral and acknowledges the evolving complexity of extremism. It notes the delivery of 'Key Principles of Prevent' guidance and describes efforts to better support individuals with mental ill-health or neurodiversity, including piloting a specialist psychological advice service and commissioning research.
Home Office
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9
Conclusion
Accepted
Prevent is poorly adapted to deal with the digital world.
Conclusion
Prevent is poorly adapted to deal with the digital world. We have outlined how online spaces are now central to the radicalisation process, particularly for young people, yet Prevent lacks the specialist knowledge or framework for identifying and assessing credible …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenges of online radicalisation and states the Home Office and Counter-Terrorism Police are adapting, working with tech companies, and implementing the Online Safety Act. It also commits to bringing forward new legislation this parliamentary session to tackle violence-fixated individuals and to set up a Home Office-led taskforce to develop new approaches for managing this risk.
Home Office
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10
Recommendation
Accepted in Part
We recommend that the Home Office makes a clear, specific statement to clarify the role...
Recommendation
We recommend that the Home Office makes a clear, specific statement to clarify the role of Prevent in addressing non-ideological cases, and makes any necessary updates to relevant Prevent guidance and training to reflect that position. The government should also …
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Government Response Summary
The government has published new guidance, 'Key Principles of Prevent,' clarifying that ideology is not mandatory for a Prevent referral and is reviewing and refreshing training content over the next year. However, it is deferring the broader recommendation to anchor Prevent within the wider safeguarding system, stating this is being considered alongside other inquiry findings.
Home Office
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11
Conclusion
Rejected
We have not seen evidence that the Home Office prioritises counter- extremism efforts beyond those...
Conclusion
We have not seen evidence that the Home Office prioritises counter- extremism efforts beyond those which fall within the existing counter- terrorism security infrastructure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 100)
Government Response Summary
The government explicitly states that its efforts to counter extremism are distinct from existing counter-terrorism systems. It affirms that the Home Office leads on Counter-Extremism policy through a dedicated team that coordinates with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, thereby disagreeing with the committee's finding.
Home Office
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12
Recommendation
Accepted
The Home Office should assign greater priority to countering extremism and work alongside the Ministry...
Recommendation
The Home Office should assign greater priority to countering extremism and work alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, other relevant departments, and local authorities to implement the social cohesion strategy. It is vital that the Home Office …
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Government Response Summary
The government has announced a 'fundamental reset' of its counter-extremism approach, including expanding the Extremism Disruptions team, increasing efforts to stop hate preachers, and updating engagement principles. It commits to delivering this work in partnership with other government departments and local authorities, and will establish a new Ministerial steering group reporting to the Prime Minister, with Home Office representation.
Home Office
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