Segregation 'free speech threat'

Colleges are told of a "serious" risk from campus extremists

Further education colleges are being warned that "segregated communities" on campuses can cause conflict and stifle free speech.

The warning accompanies government advice to colleges on stopping Islamic extremists from recruiting students.

A consultation paper says colleges face a "serious but not widespread" threat from "Al-Qaeda-influenced terrorism".

Colleges must foster "openness, free debate and tolerance", says higher education minister Bill Rammell.

The consultation, which will lead to formal guidance, is the latest phase in efforts to prevent campus extremism in higher and further education.

'Division and conflict'

It says that "colleges have a responsibility to foster our shared values and protect their students and staff from those who wish to intimidate and promote violence".

Segregated communities may steadily drift away from each other increasingly regarding the codes of behaviour, loyalty and respect that wider society take for granted as behaviour that no longer applies to them The Role of Further Education Providers in Promoting Community Cohesion, Fostering Shared Values and Preventing Violent Extremism

It warns of the dangers that can be caused when "segregated communities" develop within a college.

"Attitudes and beliefs may be reinforced so that there is little opportunity for dissent, free-thinking or the dilution of commonly held preconceptions about issues within the segregated community or wider communities.

"Segregated communities may steadily drift away from each other increasingly regarding the codes of behaviour, loyalty and respect that wider society take for granted as behaviour that no longer applies to them. What can then follow is division and conflict."

The proposals also call on colleges to be aware of the risks from outside speakers or from inflammatory literature being distributed.

The focus on colleges is part of an assessment of how extremists gather recruits - with the belief that they target young people in "prison, youth clubs, schools, universities and further education colleges".

The consultation, The Role of Further Education Providers in Promoting Community Cohesion, Fostering Shared Values and Preventing Violent Extremism, suggests that colleges should be promoting free speech, emphasising shared values, discouraging segregation and stopping bullying and intimidation

It also suggests that college technical staff should look out for inappropriate websites being used by students.

Recruiting tactics

The consultation sets out how the psychology of extremists who recruit from among vulnerable students.

"Extremist individuals have also been known to 'groom' likely recruits, by closely observing those willing to adopt more extreme viewpoints or those perceived to be vulnerable and more likely to be easily influenced."

It also warns that this recruitment process can use college events as a bridge linking students to outside organisations, which hold meetings in which "more extreme views can be roused".

The acting chief executive of the Association of Colleges, Sue Dutton, said that "organisations such as colleges, schools and universities have a duty to their students and to society at large to promote community cohesion".

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU lecturers' union, cautioned that that there were "worries however that Muslim students and staff generally will feel themselves to be the focus of attention".

The advice for further education colleges follows a warning on campus extremism sent to university authorities.

This prompted concerns from university lecturers who were worried that they would be expected to spy on their own students.