Imperial is committed to upholding and promoting the fundamental rights of lawful freedom of speech together with academic freedom. As an institution of higher education, we encourage all members of our community to engage in rigorous and challenging debate within the law. We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of our community can express their lawful views on our campuses.
Our Freedom of Speech Code of Practice (“Code”) and Events Procedure are designed to ensure that, as far as reasonably practicable, freedom of speech within the law is secured for students and staff of the University and visiting speakers, and that academic freedom within the law is secured for academic staff of the University. The Code and Events Procedure apply to all staff, students, honorary staff, visitors and authorised external speakers. The Code also emphasises that lawful free speech is a right that must be balanced with other rights – such as the right of a person not to be harassed – and so in line with Imperial’s Values all members of our community are reminded of the need to be respectful of others in the manner in which lawful views are expressed.
The Code was recently updated in line with the requirements of the amendments to the Higher Education & Research Act 2017 introduced by the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, with advice from the Freedom of Speech Task Group. It was approved by Council in July 2024.
For any questions relating to the Events Procedure, please refer to the Events Procedure Guidance in the first instance.
Code of Practice
- 1. Principles
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Interaction with policies
- 5-7. Events Procedure
- 8. Appeals and Complaints
1. Code of Practice: Principles
1.1 Imperial is committed to upholding and promoting the fundamental rights of lawful freedom of speech together with academic freedom. These freedoms underpin our essential purpose of inquiry and action through which we seek to maximise Imperial’s potential as a force for good in the world, as outlined in our Strategy: Science for Humanity. We support the view of the European Convention on Human Rights that freedom of expression constitutes one of the essential foundations of a democratic society. Since our founding in 1907, our students, staff and partners have come together to interrogate the forces that shape our world in order to use that understanding to tackle the greatest challenges facing humanity. As an institution of higher education, we encourage all members of our community to engage in rigorous and challenging debate within the law. We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that members of our community can express their lawful views on our campuses and as set out in this Code.
1.2 The purpose of the Freedom of Speech Code of Practice (“Code”) and Events Procedure is to ensure that, as far as reasonably practicable, freedom of speech within the law is secured for students and staff of the University and visiting speakers, and that academic freedom within the law is secured for academic staff of the University. The Code and Events Procedure apply to all staff, students, honorary staff, visitors and authorised external speakers.
1.3 The University has adopted this Code to ensure that it acts in accordance with the enhanced duties imposed upon it by Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.
1.4 Our values relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental to Imperial’s mission. The University:
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- encourages members of its community, including staff, students and visiting speakers, to express themselves freely within the law and to hold their own opinions, even if their views might be offensive, contested or controversial;
- expects members of its community to be respectful of others and demonstrate mutual tolerance of those with different views;
- recognises that free speech is not an unqualified right and must operate within the law.
1.5 Imperial will ensure that its teaching, curriculum, policies and procedures reflect its duties to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, freedom of speech and academic freedom within the law and the very high level of protection for the lawful expression of viewpoints and for speech in an academic context.
1.6 To support our values relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom, staff and students are expected to familiarise themselves with this Code (and the Events Procedure where needed) and relevant codes, policies and procedures of the University.
1.7 Speech is permitted unless it is restricted by law. Examples of illegal speech include expressing support for proscribed terrorist organisations, expression of views which stir up racial or religious hatred, or which incite to violence or public disorder, or cause harassment, or unlawful discrimination. Our legal responsibilities with regard to tackling discrimination and harassment are largely determined by the Equality Act 2010, which identifies nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. The Equality Act requires public sector bodies to have due regard to the need to:
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- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
- advance equality of opportunity between people who do and do not share a protected characteristic;
- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not share a protected characteristic.
In accordance with Article 10(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights, lawful free speech may be restricted when this is necessary to protect the rights of others. Whether speech (or other expressions, such as signs), are likely to be unlawful is often a question of judgement and will be context specific.
1.8 Except where expressly agreed by the Council in line with advancing the University’s charitable objects (as defined in the University Charter), the University does not take an institutional position on political, cultural and religious debates to ensure that individuals are not discouraged from expressing themselves freely within the law.