A new taskforce to catch Victoria's most dangerous would-be terrorists has deradicalised an 11-year-old as police prepare for a spike in threats during the state election.

Victoria Police’s Fixated Threat Assessment Centre has in its first six months processed 90 people who showed early warning signs of violent, extremist tendencies.

Taskforce head Inspector Steven Cooper and the lead psychologist, who cannot be named, gave The Age an exclusive look inside the deradicalisation hub, revealing how they identify those at risk of lone-wolf attacks.

The unit follows the breadcrumb trail of threats left by potential attackers, explaining that deadly strikes “don’t just happen” and that school teachers and imams are proving vital in helping police identify those most at risk.

The world's best-funded unit of its kind, it opened in February with a $31.6 million state government cash injection following the deadly Bourke Street attack in 2017.