University backlash to UK Prevent strategy

The government’s counter-terrorism strategy, Prevent, is facing opposition on university campuses over concerns it is discriminatory and encourages spying, reports the Guardian.

The National Union of Students (NUS) is expected to table a motion at its conference in April condemning as “totally unacceptable” approaches by Prevent officers asking for details of student Islamic society members.

On 6 February a home affairs committee review of Prevent concluded that students with extremist views were not always “subject to equal and robust challenge” at universities and recommended this be remedied with new government guidance.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Prevent aims to turn people away from violent extremism. It is not about spying or intelligence gathering. The Prevent strategy makes clear that universities have a responsibility to help protect vulnerable young people from radicalisation. The vast majority of them recognise this and take part in Prevent.”