Counter-Terrorist Law in British Universities: A Review of the "Prevent" Debate

Several issues have arisen in a particularly acute form as a result of the Coalition Government's Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (CTSA) which, amongst other things, imposes a legal duty upon schools, universities, the NHS and other institutions to have due regard to the need to prevent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public law 2018-01 (1), p.84
Main Authors: Greer, Steven, Bell, Lindsey
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Coalition governments
College students
Compliance
Counterterrorism
Efficacy
Extremism
Freedom of speech
Human rights
Legal responsibility
Radicalism
Terrorism
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Summary:Several issues have arisen in a particularly acute form as a result of the Coalition Government's Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (CTSA) which, amongst other things, imposes a legal duty upon schools, universities, the NHS and other institutions to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism (the "Prevent duty"). This may include banning some activities, regulating others, and/or taking steps to identify those at risk and to refer them to appropriate agencies. While the CTSA has aroused great controversy in education at all levels, in this article we are exclusively concerned with the tertiary sector where some distinct issues arise. Broadly speaking three reactions can be distinguished. First, university authorities, their employees, and their students appear, for the most part, to be fully and willingly complying with their legal, civic and professional obligations. Second, concern has been expressed about the efficacy of the Prevent duty, and its human rights compliance, particularly regarding non-violent extremism.
ISSN:0033-3565