Robert Mendick, and Robert Verkaik report in the Daily Telegraph that Nursery school staff and registered childminders will have to report toddlers at risk of becoming terrorists, under counter-terrorism measures proposed by the Government.
The proposal is in a Home Office consultation document to accompany the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, currently going through parliament. It suggests that nurseries and along with schools and universities have a duty to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. However, critics claim the plan is heavy-handed and turns teachers and carers as “spies”. There are also concerns over the practicalities of making it a legal requirement for staff to inform on toddlers.
David Davis, MP said:
“It is hard to see how this can be implemented. It is unworkable. I have to say I cannot understand what they [nursery staff] are expected to do. Are they supposed to report some toddler who comes in praising a preacher deemed to be extreme? I don’t think so”.