Dear Ian,

Please find below next to each question, the University of Sunderland s response
to your FOI request regarding terrorism and teaching and research materials.
I hope this information satisfies your request but should you require further
information, please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request you can make a
complaint to the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Resources and Corporate Services and
Clerk to the Board of Governors, 4th Floor Edinburgh Building, University of
Sunderland, Chester Road, Sunderland, SR1 3SD which will be investigated within
20 working days.
Should you not be content with this internal review, then, as you know, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision at
The Information Commissioner s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Regards
Bernard Dale
Governance and Records Management Officer Legal and Governance University of
Sunderland 4th Floor Edinburgh Building City Campus Chester Road Sunderland
SR1 3SD
Tel 0191-5152041
bernard.dale@sunderland.ac.uk

From: ian.benson22@btinternet.com [mailto:ian.benson22@btinternet.com]

Sent: 26 April 2010 12:06
To: ian.benson22@btinternet.com
Subject: FOI Request - Terrorism Legislation
FOI Request Terrorism Legislation
I would like to request the following information under the provisions of the
Freedom of Information Act. I would ask you to send your response by e-mail.
Q1 Does your institution provide any information or advice to students or staff
on any potential liability under Terrorism legislation which might result from
accessing materials for teaching or research ? If so please provide copies of
any documents held which detail or refer to such information or advice.
Please find here a link to the University s IT Regulations -
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-193/ITRegs.pdf.
Section 3 of the regulations state that users of the IT facilities should comply
with relevant UK law. I also include here a link to the University s Ethics
Procedures and Practices http://my.sunderland.ac.uk/web/info/ethics/ahome. This
contains a section relating to criminality policy. I also include a link to the
University s E-mail and Internet at work policy
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-136/Email_Policy
.pdf

Q2 Does your institution have any kind of procedure to review or assess reading
lists, module descriptors or other teaching materials which explicitly or in
practice considers questions of safety and risk under terrorism legislation as
part of its remit ? For example does the institution have anything similar or
analogous to the 'module review process' established at Nottingham University
described here :
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=407122;
http://www.teachingterrorism.net/2009/08/03/nottingham-censorship-a-defence;
http://www.teachingterrorism.net/2009/08/06/is-vetting-at-nottingham-in-defence-
of-academic-freedom
If so please supply full details of this policy and procedure and advise when
and how it was decided upon and implemented.
This notice acts as a refusal notice under the provisions of S17(4) of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The University of Sunderland neither confirms nor denies that it holds any of
the information requested. To give a statement of the reasons why neither
confirming nor denying is appropriate in this case would itself involve the
disclosure of exempt information. The University of the Sunderland has
determined that in this case Section 31(3) Law Enforcement applies and also the
public interest in maintaining the exclusion of the duty to neither confirm nor
deny outweighs the public interest in confirming whether or not information is
held.

Q3 Does your institution have any system, policy or procedure in place for
dealing with any potential actions taken by the authorities against the
institution, its students or staff under Terrorism legislation ? If so please
supply a copy of the policy and advise the date it was decided upon and
implemented.
There are a number of staff and student disciplinary procedures which would
potentially come into operation under the circumstances you describe, links are
set out below:-
Any potential action to be taken against the Institution itself would be
considered at a meeting of the Board of Governors -
http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/university/ourpeople/governors/

The Board of Governors adhere to the University s Articles of Government (see

copy attached)
Student disciplinary procedures are set out in the following links:-
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-3080/AQH-H4+Stud
ent+Disciplinary+Regulations.pdf
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-5010/Student+Han
dbook-Regulations%2C+Policies+and+Procedures+2009.pdf
Staff disciplinary procedures are set out in the attached links:-
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-125/Disciplinary
+Procedure+_May+2009_.pdf
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-1441/Dismissal+P
rocedure+-+April+2006.pdf
https://docushare.sunderland.ac.uk/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-1440/Managing+In
vestigations+-+Guidance+notes+for+managers.pdf

Q4 Does your institution have any system, policy or procedure in place for
preventing violent extremism as recommended for example in the government
guidance document Promoting Good Campus Relations
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/tna/+/http://www.dius.gov.uk/publicati
ons/extremismhe.pdf
Please indicate what procedures or policy exist and advise when it was decided
upon and implemented, and provide copies of any documents held which detail or
refer to such policy or procedures.
The University is aware of, and has considered, the government guidance document
Promoting Good Campus Relations . The University has established a Community
Monitoring Advisory Group which is working towards systems which follow the
guidance provided in the document.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Ian Benson
10 County House Mews, Monkgate, York YO31 7NR 01904 673880