UK University asked to inform on ‘vulnerable’ Muslims students

It said the move has resulted in deep discomfort among university lecturers and student union officials who wish to combat terrorism but say the new strategy is an infringement of students’ civil liberties.

Officials implementing the government’s revamped Prevent strategy are training frontline university employees in how to spot students vulnerable to extremism.

Documents handed to staff claim that students who seem depressed or who are estranged from their families,who bear political grievances,or who use extremist websites or have poor access to mainstream religious instruction could be at risk of radicalisation.

However,the National Union of Students has told its officers that they do not have to provide police with details about students unless they are presented with a warrant.

Local authority workers and police officers have been introducing the new strategy over the last month.

“Inquiries by the Guardian show that colleges in Lancashire and London have been approached by police and local authorities,” the report said.