TEACHERS TARGET TERROR SUSPECT, 9

Teaching union brands strategy ‘cack-handed’

A CHILD under nine was among 23 youngsters referred for investigation as potential terrorists in Scotland over the past two years.

Thousands of teachers, lecturers and local government workers have been trained to spot the signs of radicalisation under the UK Government’s controversial Prevent strategy.

Figures show since 2015, 131 people were referred in Scotland, 23 under the age of 14. The youngest was under nine.

Out of the 131, four were students referred for investigation by university staff and 16 were reported by teachers.

Police Scotland insist the strategy has stopped people travelling to Syria and contributing to the slaughter there.

Teaching unions said the figures – revealed in an FOI by an education magazine – show Prevent is “cack-handed”. Scottish education union EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan, said: “Teenagers have questions and they are not going to be able to discuss these in a supportive environment at school for fear of being reported.

“Closing down that space means there’s a greater danger of radicalisation. Prevent is not opposed [by the EIS] because of its ambition – it is opposed because of its cack-handed approach.”

Scotland’s children’s commissioner Tam Baillie added: “I would not like to see trust eroded to the point where children and young people find suspicion rather than support, as this is in danger of furthering alienation rather than promoting community cohesion.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We have worked to determine the best way to develop and implement a balanced and proportionate approach to safeguarding vulnerable individuals from radicalisation.”

Police Scotland Prevent lead, detective chief inspector Martin Black, said: “There have been cases where we have spoken to young people who wish to go out to Syria.

“There are many good stories about those individuals who we have stopped travelling to Syria and putting themselves at risk.”