diff --git a/src/config/index.ts b/src/config/index.ts
index 30740a137..305b57d90 100644
--- a/src/config/index.ts
+++ b/src/config/index.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export const config = convict({
   },
   enforceCsrf: {
     format: Boolean,
-    default: isProduction,
+    default: true,
     env: 'ENFORCE_CSRF'
   },
 
diff --git a/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.test.ts b/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.test.ts
index 264c74ca9..b75d0f537 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.test.ts
+++ b/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.test.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import {
   getExponentialBackoffDelay,
   getPageHref,
   proceed,
-  safeGenerateCrumb,
   setPageTitles,
   type GlobalScope
 } from '~/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.js'
@@ -36,7 +35,6 @@ import {
 import {
   FormAction,
   FormStatus,
-  type FormRequest,
   type FormResponseToolkit
 } from '~/src/server/routes/types.js'
 import definition from '~/test/form/definitions/basic.js'
@@ -493,78 +491,6 @@ describe('Helpers', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  describe('safeGenerateCrumb', () => {
-    it('should return undefined when request.state is missing (malformed request)', () => {
-      const malformedRequest = {
-        server: {
-          plugins: {
-            crumb: {
-              generate: jest.fn()
-            }
-          }
-        },
-        plugins: {},
-        route: { settings: { plugins: {} } },
-        path: '/test',
-        url: { search: '' }
-        // state intentionally omitted
-      } as unknown as FormRequest
-
-      const crumbToken = safeGenerateCrumb(malformedRequest)
-      expect(crumbToken).toBeUndefined()
-      expect(
-        malformedRequest.server.plugins.crumb.generate
-      ).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
-    })
-
-    it('should return undefined if crumb is disabled in route settings', () => {
-      const requestWithDisabledCrumb = {
-        server: {
-          plugins: {
-            crumb: {
-              generate: jest.fn().mockReturnValue('test-token')
-            }
-          }
-        },
-        plugins: {},
-        route: { settings: { plugins: { crumb: false } } },
-        path: '/test',
-        url: { search: '' },
-        state: {}
-      } as unknown as FormRequest
-
-      const crumbToken = safeGenerateCrumb(requestWithDisabledCrumb)
-      expect(crumbToken).toBeUndefined()
-      expect(
-        requestWithDisabledCrumb.server.plugins.crumb.generate
-      ).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
-    })
-
-    it('should generate crumb when state exists and crumb plugin is available', () => {
-      const mockCrumb = 'generated-crumb-value'
-      const validRequest = {
-        server: {
-          plugins: {
-            crumb: {
-              generate: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(mockCrumb)
-            }
-          }
-        },
-        plugins: {},
-        route: { settings: { plugins: {} } },
-        path: '/test',
-        url: { search: '' },
-        state: {}
-      } as unknown as FormRequest
-
-      const crumbToken = safeGenerateCrumb(validRequest)
-      expect(crumbToken).toBe(mockCrumb)
-      expect(validRequest.server.plugins.crumb.generate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        validRequest
-      )
-    })
-  })
-
   describe('getExponentialBackoffDelay', () => {
     it.each([
       { depth: 1, expected: 2000 },
diff --git a/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.ts b/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.ts
index 2935fcd60..14c060adf 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import { type FormModel } from '~/src/server/plugins/engine/models/FormModel.js'
 import { type PageControllerClass } from '~/src/server/plugins/engine/pageControllers/helpers/pages.js'
 import { stripParam } from '~/src/server/plugins/engine/pageControllers/helpers/state.js'
 import {
-  type AnyFormRequest,
   type FormContext,
   type FormContextRequest,
   type FormSubmissionError
@@ -336,32 +335,6 @@ export function createError(componentName: string, message: string) {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * A small helper to safely generate a crumb token.
- * Checks that the crumb plugin is available, that crumb
- * is not disabled on the current route, and that cookies/state are present.
- */
-export function safeGenerateCrumb(
-  request: AnyFormRequest | null
-): string | undefined {
-  // no request or no .state
-  if (!request?.state) {
-    return undefined
-  }
-
-  // crumb plugin or its generate method doesn't exist
-  if (!request.server.plugins.crumb.generate) {
-    return undefined
-  }
-
-  // crumb is explicitly disabled for this route
-  if (request.route.settings.plugins?.crumb === false) {
-    return undefined
-  }
-
-  return request.server.plugins.crumb.generate(request)
-}
-
 /**
  * Calculates an exponential backoff delay (in milliseconds) based on the current retry depth,
  * using a base delay of 2000ms (2 seconds) and doubling for each additional depth, while capping the delay at 25,000ms (25 seconds).
diff --git a/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.js b/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.js
index ef5b9dfca..9634e6720 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.js
+++ b/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.js
@@ -8,8 +8,7 @@ import { config } from '~/src/config/index.js'
 import { createLogger } from '~/src/server/common/helpers/logging/logger.js'
 import {
   checkFormStatus,
-  encodeUrl,
-  safeGenerateCrumb
+  encodeUrl
 } from '~/src/server/plugins/engine/helpers.js'
 
 const logger = createLogger()
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ export async function context(request) {
     // take consumers props first so we can override it
     ...consumerViewContext,
     baseLayoutPath: pluginStorage.baseLayoutPath,
-    crumb: safeGenerateCrumb(request),
     currentPath: `${request.path}${request.url.search}`,
     previewMode: isPreviewMode ? formState : undefined,
     slug: isResponseOK ? params?.slug : undefined
diff --git a/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.test.js b/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.test.js
index 330e18fbc..f199c2263 100644
--- a/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.test.js
+++ b/src/server/plugins/nunjucks/context.test.js
@@ -101,43 +101,6 @@ describe('Nunjucks context', () => {
         malformedRequest.server.plugins.crumb.generate
       ).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     })
-
-    it('should generate crumb when state exists', async () => {
-      const mockCrumb = 'generated-crumb-value'
-      const validRequest = /** @type {FormRequest} */ (
-        /** @type {unknown} */ ({
-          server: {
-            plugins: {
-              crumb: {
-                generate: jest.fn().mockReturnValue(mockCrumb)
-              },
-              'forms-engine-plugin': {
-                baseLayoutPath: 'randomValue'
-              }
-            }
-          },
-          plugins: {},
-          route: {
-            settings: {
-              plugins: {}
-            }
-          },
-          path: '/test',
-          url: { search: '' },
-          state: {},
-          yar: {
-            flash: jest.fn().mockReturnValue([]),
-            commit: jest.fn()
-          }
-        })
-      )
-
-      const { crumb } = await context(validRequest)
-      expect(crumb).toBe(mockCrumb)
-      expect(validRequest.server.plugins.crumb.generate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-        validRequest
-      )
-    })
   })
 })
 
diff --git a/src/server/routes/dummy-api.test.ts b/src/server/routes/dummy-api.test.ts
index 58c727da0..4c84ca534 100644
--- a/src/server/routes/dummy-api.test.ts
+++ b/src/server/routes/dummy-api.test.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ describe('Dummy API', () => {
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
     MockDate.set('2025-01-01T00:00:00Z')
-    server = await createServer()
+    server = await createServer({
+      enforceCsrf: false
+    })
     await server.initialize()
   })
 
diff --git a/test/condition/checkboxes.test.js b/test/condition/checkboxes.test.js
index 4e3f943f3..32acd362c 100644
--- a/test/condition/checkboxes.test.js
+++ b/test/condition/checkboxes.test.js
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ describe('Checkboxes based conditions', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'checkboxes.json',
-      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions')
+      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     await server.initialize()
diff --git a/test/condition/radios.test.js b/test/condition/radios.test.js
index 4290eab42..2db41cd59 100644
--- a/test/condition/radios.test.js
+++ b/test/condition/radios.test.js
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ describe('Radio based conditions', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'radios.json',
-      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions')
+      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     await server.initialize()
diff --git a/test/condition/text.test.js b/test/condition/text.test.js
index 994990b1a..32a8cafd1 100644
--- a/test/condition/text.test.js
+++ b/test/condition/text.test.js
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ describe('TextField based conditions', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'text.json',
-      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions')
+      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     await server.initialize()
diff --git a/test/form/component-state-errors.test.js b/test/form/component-state-errors.test.js
index d80c1dbec..cbcc8b633 100644
--- a/test/form/component-state-errors.test.js
+++ b/test/form/component-state-errors.test.js
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ describe('Component State Error Tests - File Upload', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'file-upload-basic.js',
-      formFilePath: join(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions')
+      formFilePath: join(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     await server.initialize()
diff --git a/test/form/file-upload.test.js b/test/form/file-upload.test.js
index 7d84a7288..6b85bcffd 100644
--- a/test/form/file-upload.test.js
+++ b/test/form/file-upload.test.js
@@ -174,7 +174,8 @@ describe('File upload POST tests', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'file-upload.js',
-      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions')
+      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     await server.initialize()
diff --git a/test/form/govuk-notify.test.js b/test/form/govuk-notify.test.js
index 22efc6aa1..8b83b2db1 100644
--- a/test/form/govuk-notify.test.js
+++ b/test/form/govuk-notify.test.js
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ describe('Submission journey test', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'components.json',
-      formFilePath: join(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions')
+      formFilePath: join(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     await server.initialize()
diff --git a/test/form/joined-conditions.test.js b/test/form/joined-conditions.test.js
index fe136a4c8..b4c96acea 100644
--- a/test/form/joined-conditions.test.js
+++ b/test/form/joined-conditions.test.js
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ describe('Joined conditions functional tests', () => {
     beforeAll(async () => {
       server = await createServer({
         formFileName: 'joined-conditions-simple-v2.js',
-        formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions')
+        formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions'),
+        enforceCsrf: false
       })
       await server.initialize()
     })
@@ -270,7 +271,8 @@ describe('Joined conditions functional tests', () => {
     beforeAll(async () => {
       server = await createServer({
         formFileName: 'joined-conditions-complex-v2.js',
-        formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions')
+        formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions'),
+        enforceCsrf: false
       })
       await server.initialize()
     })
diff --git a/test/form/persist-files.test.js b/test/form/persist-files.test.js
index 37f893820..1128df34a 100644
--- a/test/form/persist-files.test.js
+++ b/test/form/persist-files.test.js
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ describe('Submission journey test', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'file-upload-basic.js',
-      formFilePath: join(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions')
+      formFilePath: join(import.meta.dirname, 'definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     await server.initialize()
diff --git a/test/form/repeat.test.js b/test/form/repeat.test.js
index 77602d37f..0d3573048 100644
--- a/test/form/repeat.test.js
+++ b/test/form/repeat.test.js
@@ -90,7 +90,8 @@ describe('Repeat GET tests', () => {
   beforeAll(async () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'repeat.js',
-      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions')
+      formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     const model = server.app.model
@@ -363,7 +364,8 @@ describe('Repeat POST tests', () => {
     server = await createServer({
       formFileName: 'repeat.js',
       formFilePath: resolve(import.meta.dirname, '../form/definitions'),
-      saveAndExit: (request, h, _context) => h.redirect('/my-save-and-exit')
+      saveAndExit: (request, h, _context) => h.redirect('/my-save-and-exit'),
+      enforceCsrf: false
     })
 
     const model = server.app.model