The highest number of people on record were referred to the UK's anti-extremism scheme in the year to March, 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.

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 o

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