The (lack of) relationship between autism and violence: A literature review
11th December 2025
In the wake of RSI’s publication of a national Ofsted training we uncovered in which the UK education body says autistic children are at ‘increased risk’ of becoming extremists, we have carried out this literature review to examine what academic research tells us about the relationship between autism and violence – and the findings are clear. There is no evidence of a direct causal link between autism and violence.
As part of our ongoing work on the UK’s Prevent duty and its impact on autistic people – particularly children – this review maps existing scholarship. It highlights where there is consensus, where debate continues, and where significant gaps remain. This review of the facts is especially important given Prevent’s growing reach: in the year ending March 2025, 8,778 people were referred to Prevent in England and Wales, including 1,226 autistic people (14% of referrals) – a disproportionate figure only recently made visible through new Home Office data.
Across the literature, several themes emerge. Autistic people are more often misinterpreted than dangerous, frequently drawn into criminal justice processes not because they offend at higher rates, but because authorities lack the training and understanding needed to recognise autistic behaviours. In reality, autistic people are far more likely to be victims of bullying, abuse and systemic neglect than perpetrators of violence. Yet sensationalised media coverage continues to reinforce harmful stereotypes, fuelling stigma and moral panic.
The review also shows how intersecting inequalities shape experiences of discrimination: autistic people of colour, and those from minoritised religious and ethnic groups, face higher risks of misdiagnosis, over-policing and criminalisation.
Overall, the evidence underscores the urgent need for policies that prioritise protection, inclusion and neurodivergence-informed practice – rather than suspicion or stereotyping – when the authorities interact with autistic people.