Nursery schools and registered child minders may end up having to report toddlers who are at risk of becoming terrorists under new counter-terrorism measures proposed by the government.
The Telegraph reports that the directive was part of a 39-page consultation document issued by the Home office in a bid to bolster its plans to prevent terrorism.
“We would expect staff to have the training they need to identify children at risk of radicalisation and know where and how to refer them for further help if necessary,” a department spokesman told the newspaper.
Critics have responded to this plan to prevent terrible twos, threatening threes, fearsome fours and frightening fives from becoming a national security threat by saying it is unworkable, heavy handed and amounts to trying to turn teachers and carers into spies.
“The Government should focus on projects to support vulnerable young people – instead they’re playing straight into terrorists’ hands by rushing through a Bill that undermines our democratic principles and turns us into a nation of suspects," said Isabella Sankey, the policy director at human rights body Liberty.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
