Universities 'must guarantee free speech'

Tue 26 Jan 2010

Higher education students should not be gagged if they harbour extremist views, a university head has insisted.

According to Malcolm Grant, president and provost of University College London (UCL), campuses are and should be "safe homes" for controversy, argument and debate.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, he stated that this does not extend to incitement that could lead to terrorism.

However, Mr Grant insisted that universities cannot act as policemen and can therefore not deny radical speakers freedom of speech.

He was speaking after the launch of an inquiry into one of UCL's former students Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab - the Nigerian man who attempted to blow up a passenger jet on Christmas Day 2009.

Mr Grant said that since the failed attack, lots of hysteria and hyperbole about the level of extremism in British universities has been whipped up.

However, he acknowledged that the higher education sector must work to ensure that universities do not become "hotbeds of radicalisation".

Stephen Hart, a senior solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood, commented: "Universities do have a duty to allow freedom of speech and debate.

"However, they should be aware that there is a risk that 'extremist views' may stray into incitement to commit acts of terrorism, in which case speakers or students are vulnerable to prosecution.

"Universities are also well-advised regularly to review their IT provision to ensure that students do not access extremist websites from the university's equipment.

"Overall, this is a difficult area, requiring the careful balancing of the rights of students and academic debate against wider responsibilities and legal duties."