Section 43 of the Education Act (No2) 1986 requires that the governing body of Imperial College establish a Code of Practice with respect to Freedom of Speech. Such a code has been established at Imperial College (since 19th June 1987) in order to take steps which are reasonably practicable to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for its members, students and employees of the College and for visiting speakers.

Imperial College is under no legal obligation to hold meetings of other activities on its premises (including premises operated by Imperial College Union) which are open to the outside public. It must take account its other legal obligations in regard to what is said on its premises which might lead to incitement to violence or breach of the peace or incitement of racial hatred, or which might otherwise transgress the bounds of lawful speech.

A visiting speaker is defined as a person coming from outside the College. A request for approval of an activity involving a visiting speaker will be only be considered if the invitation is made by a Club, Society or Project recognised by Imperial College Union. This request should at least three weeks in advance of an event involving a visiting speaker and be made at the same time as requesting a room, via the online system found at imperialcollegeunion.org/roombooking. One request should be completed for each speaker. A single person must be appointed as the principal organiser of the event.

This process is necessary to ensure Club, Society & Project events are held in accordance with Imperial College’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech. Not all events involving visiting speakers fall within the scope of the Code of Practice; however a judgment will need to be made once the information on this form has been provided. Any event falling within the scope of the Code of Practice will be subject to approval of the College Secretary who has the authority to impose conditions. Possible conditions are provided overleaf. Confirmations on the approval or otherwise of an event involving a visiting speaker will be provided via email from the Student Activities Centre.

Information on Visting Speakers

Events falling within the scope of the Code of Practice for Freedom of Speech are defined as:

“Any meeting or other activity where there is a real likelihood that the speaker may not be able to enter or

leave a building safely and/or deliver his or her speech…”

Judgment on whether an event falls within this definition will be made by Imperial College Security, not the event organiser. Any event falling within the scope of the Code of Practice may be subject to conditions imposed by the College Secretary, such conditions may include:• that the public may not be invited or admitted;• that the audience may not include persons other than

members, staff and students of the College;• that admission may be restricted and controlled by

tickets, identity cards or both;• that if guests of attendees are allowed to attend only

those whose identity is known to the organisers may be admitted;

• that all advertising will be in the English language;• that speakers shall enter and leave by specified routes

and be escorted under specified arrangements made by the organisers;

• that an adequate number of stewards shall be available before, during and after the meeting;

• that additional security staff will be deployed to maintain good order at a cost which may be borne by the organisers;

• that restrictions on admission or exclusion of the press, television or broadcasting personnel be applied.

Additionally the College Secretary has discretion to lay down further conditions, if appropriate, after consultation with the police. For all events falling within the scope of the code of practice the organizers have a responsibility to ensure no activity infringes the law eg. by conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace or incitement to illegal acts. No articles which might be used as missiles may be taken into an event, nor may alcoholic drinks be consumed in the area of the event. An appeal to a decision of the College Secretary may be made to the Rector, whose decision shall be final.

Version 1.0 - 01 June 2010