Terror suspect’s student life ‘chilled’ by restrictions

A TERROR suspect regarded as a threat to national security – but who is now at university – has won a High Court decision to overcome “a sense of embarrassment and isolation” on campus.

The court heard restrictions on who “CF” can meet, designed to prevent him engaging in terror-related activity, are having a “chilling” effect on his life as a student.

A judge ruled the restrictions were not “proportionate” and called for them to be relaxed.

The 24-year-old from north London began a full-time degree course at a mainstream London university last September.

University staff and other students do not know of his alleged terrorism connections because his identity is protected by an anonymity order.

CF was first placed under a control order requiring him to live in Norwich and imposing a curfew and other restrictions in May 2011.

Control orders were introduced to protect the public from suspected terrorists who cannot be brought to court without, according to the government, compromising secret sources of evidence.

The control order regime was abandoned by the Home Office and replaced with terrorism prevention and investigation measures.

The High Court in London heard the order placed challenging restrictions on CF’s contact with teachers and other students, and that a requirement that he give the Home Office advance notice of meetings was “not compatible with leading a normal social life” at university.

Mr Justice Wilkie called for changes to the present arrangements.

He said: “They must impose a chilling effect on CF’s participation in [student life] without any, apparent, beneficial effect on national security.”