Across the country university staff including lecturers, chaplains and porters are being asked to inform the police about Muslim students who are depressed or isolated under new guidance for countering Islamist radicalism. Universities that agree to the renewed version of the scheme are trained to refer ‘at risk’ students to Prevent officials. The student is then monitored by a panel including a detective from Scotland Yard, who assess any potential terror threat. The student is not made aware at any stage that they are under investigation. University staff are also asked to report students that suffer from depression, have poor relationships with their families, are disgruntled by the government, and access extremist websites.
The University and College Union (UCU) said that the government's strategy risked damaging the relationship between staff and students. "Staff have made it quite clear that they do not wish to police their students or engage in any activity that might erode the trust between them and students," it said.
Lauren Crowley, Vice-President (Education) said, “Of course we want the government to be combating terrorism, but this new strategy is an infringement of students’ civil liberties. We consider the action of passing on details of a student who the police consider ‘vulnerable’ as not only morally questionable but against the confidential nature of pastoral support. We do not have to provide police with any details about students unless we are presented with a warrant and we will reject any communication with Prevent officials and urge the University of Kent to do the same."