The Home Secretary has announced that sharing 'vile online material' glorifying serious violence will become a criminal offence under new legislation, following the first phase of the Southport Inquiry. The move comes after the inquiry found the murders of three young girls 'could and should have been prevented' if agencies had acted to stop Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 when he attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July 2024.
Government accepts all recommendations
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the government has accepted all recommendations made by inquiry chairman Sir Adrian Fulford for central government. In a report published in April, Sir Adrian identified a 'fundamental failure' by any organisation or multi-agency arrangement to take ownership of the risk Rudakubana posed in the years before the attack.
Rudakubana had contact with police, counter-terrorism, social care, youth justice, and the NHS before the attack, and had watched violent videos that remained on social media months after the murders.
Five major failings outlined
The inquiry found five major failings: no agency accepted responsibility for assessing the risk; essential information was repeatedly lost or diluted; Rudakubana's conduct was wrongly attributed to autism; his online behaviour was never properly examined; and his parents did not provide boundaries, allowing knives and weapons into the home.
Defence Minister and Wallasey MP Angela Eagle told the ECHO that new legislation will criminalise the planning of mass casualty attacks and the creation and sharing of violent online material. 'Material like this is too readily available and must be removed,' she said.
Changes already underway
Since the attack, the government has strengthened the Prevent programme, introduced a stronger approach to repeat referrals, and provided new tools and training for Counter Terrorism Policing. Jonathan Hall KC, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, identified a gap where planning a multi-person attack without an ideological motive was not a crime.
'We will soon bring forward new legislation to criminalise the planning of mass casualty attacks, ensuring that those who pose threats like these can be stopped and prosecuted before it's too late,' Eagle added. The second phase of the inquiry opens next week in London.
