MINISTERS will issue an ultimatum to universities tomorrow to crack down on hate preachers and other extremists or face legal sanctions.
Jo Johnson, the universities minister, will issue a new framework requiring universities to reveal what measures they are taking to combat extremism following the massacre in Paris.
University chiefs will be ordered to hand over a counter-radicalisation risk assessment, an action plan and policies for dealing with hate preachers by January 22. Those who fail to comply will be subject to “serious sanctions”. They will be told to disclose details of how many students are at risk of radicalisation on their campus and demonstrate how they plan to help them.
They will also have to tell the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) how many events they have held with speakers where they have had to deploy extra security or where a preacher has been made to sign an agreement to abide by equality and diversity rules. The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 means that higher-education providers must have robust policies and procedures in place to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. [The Sunday Times (£)] Read more
