impact on the victim is clearly distressing. This is unsurprising and the research exploring
harassment on the basis of identifying as LGB+ or transgender suggests a similar situation.
This highlights the importance of the implementation of robust policies and procedures, no
matter how low the numbers, and ensuring effective development of cross-institutional
responses.
Evidence of antisemitism affecting university students
Concerns about antisemitism affecting university students have been raised previously. The
NUS, the Community Security Trust (CST) and the Union for Jewish Students (UJS)
produced A Student’s Guide to Recognising, Reacting to and Fighting anti-Semitism on
Campus (2010).112
The CST Antisemitic Incident Report 2015 sets out that of the 924 antisemitic incidents
recorded for that year, the victims in 21 of these cases were Jewish students, academics or
other student bodies. 13 of these took place on campus. Around three quarters of the total
924 incidents took place in Greater London and Greater Manchester, which include the two
largest Jewish communities in the UK.113
Despite the relatively low number of reported incidents, Jewish community leaders have
raised concerns with UUK about antisemitism on campus. In order to further understand
some of these concerns, UUK held a roundtable with student representative groups,
university representatives and parliamentarians. The discussion revealed that on the whole
Jewish students have a positive experience of university, but there are a number of ongoing
issues and occasions where Jewish students feel hostility on campus. Although the CST
figures are low, there is a concern that students are not coming forward. In terms of
improving the institutional response, these themes align with those drawn out in chapter 3 of
the main report and are explored in more detail in this section. In addition to this, a concern
was expressed that universities do not always strike the right balance between ensuring
freedom of speech and academic freedom, and respect for Jewish students.
Evidence of anti-Muslim harassment and hate crime affecting students
Student groups have expressed concerns that anti-Muslim harassment and hate crime will
increase on campus as a result of the government’s decision to place the Prevent strategy on
a statutory footing, as part of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015.114 The NUS
recently passed a motion at its national conference reaffirming its opposition to the CounterTerrorism and Security Act, partly on the basis that it ‘creates and exacerbates a culture of
Islamophobia in the UK’.
The only available evidence on anti-Muslim attacks in the UK appears to be the data
produced by the Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks) initiative. Tell MAMA is a
confidential and independent third-party hate crime reporting service for individuals who
experience anti-Muslim hate incidents and crimes.
Available at https://cst.org.uk/docs/Students per cent20Book per cent202010-for per cent20website.pdf
CST, Antisemitic Incidents Report 2015 (February 2016).
114 Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, available at
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/6/part/5/enacted
112
113
85