A SCOTTISH university agreed to requests to monitor its students on behalf of an arms company.
Emails obtained under freedom of information laws and reported by The Herald and Liberty Investigates reveal how Heriot-Watt University staff agreed to implement a range of security measures requested by defence firm Raytheon UK ahead of a campus careers fair.
These included monitoring student chat groups and discussion forums for talk of any planned protest, monitoring CCTV for signs of groups gathering, and having an "enhanced" physical presence on the day to "help safeguard the Raytheon employees attending".
The requests were being made of the university's safeguarding team, first aid and mental health first aid trained campus officers.
In response, a HWU staff member said they would implement the additional security measures.
Katie Wood, a HWU student and president of the Society for Progressive Students, said that she was “disappointed and ashamed” by the university’s response to Raytheon UK’s requests.
"My immediate reaction is that the safeguarding team are in place at the university to protect the students and not the profits of arms companies.
"This kind of move damages the trust that students have in safeguarding about their ability to make decisions that will protect students and put them first.
"As a student, I would have respected them more if they had just said, ‘That's not within our capabilities, that's not something we're going to actively do, but if something happens on campus, we'll be there to deal with any situation that arises.’"
They said: “Our safeguarding team routinely checks physical notice boards on campus. This is part of their regular responsibilities to ensure that all displayed materials align with our university’s values.
“In the event of a protest or demonstration, the role of our safeguarding team is to observe and support the safety and wellbeing of all participants.”
On February 20, the university hosted two defence companies at its student careers fair, Raytheon UK and Leonardo, both of which make parts for the type of F-35 fighter jets used by the Israeli military, according to research by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade.
Neither company replied to questions about their connection to jets used for bombings in Gaza, but both have been the subject of demonstrations against their involvement in weapons manufacturing and, more recently, connections to technology used in the war in Gaza.
On January 31, Raytheon UK’s security manager asked the HWU safeguarding team to monitor CCTV for signs of students gathering to protest and to conduct enhanced patrols to “show a presence and act as a deterrent.”
The Raytheon UK employee wrote that the company’s presence on campuses has previously drawn "unwanted attention from protest groups, including university students” and requested help ahead of the February careers event.
Raytheon UK’s attendance was not advertised prior to the event, according to the email.
The Raytheon UK employee asked HWU to implement additional measures, including three specific requests of the safeguarding team:
- "Monitor the university chat groups and notice boards in the lead up to the event in case any groups are planning to disrupt the event, as we have had this occasionally at university events in the past."
- "Monitor the campus CCTV prior to and during the event in case any groups are seen gathering that may be intent on a protest or simply disrupting the event."
- "Prior to and during the event carry out enhanced patrols around the venue entrance and perhaps enter the venue occasionally to show a presence and act as a deterrent."
The Raytheon UK employee added that they had no information to suggest any protest or disruption was planned, nor did they provide examples of their employees being subjected to unlawful protest on other campuses.
On February 5, in response to Raytheon UK's requests, a HWU employee said: "Not a problem, we will support this event in the same way as last year and to [sic] implement the measures you have suggested.
“If there is anything else we can assist with this, then please do not hesitate to let me know."
There was no demonstration during the career event in question.
When asked if university staff followed through on Raytheon UK's requests, a HWU spokesperson told The Herald that the university is "proud of its safeguarding service, and it is good practice to assess safety measures for campus events, with our safeguarding and estates teams playing a key role in this process".
They added: "We reject any allegation that the university was involved in improper monitoring of any members of our community."
"Heriot-Watt University fully supports the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, provided these activities are conducted lawfully and within the framework of University policies.
“Like all universities, we must balance this right with our responsibility to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and uninterrupted academic experience of the wider community.
“In the event of a protest or demonstration, the role of our safeguarding team is to observe and support the safety and wellbeing of all participants.”
The university did not provide further comment when asked why it did not explicitly refuse to monitor student chats, given it has since said that staff do not have access to such groups.
In the email exchange between the Raytheon UK employee and HWU, safety concerns are only referenced in relation to Raytheon employees. All references to HWU students or potential protestors are in the context of possible “disruption” or “unwanted attention".
The university’s spokesperson did not reply when asked whether supporting the safety and wellbeing of demonstrators included discouraging demonstrations from taking place.
A Raytheon UK spokesperson said that it works with hosts to conduct thorough security assessments on behalf of all participants ahead of any career event.
They added: “Raytheon UK, like other large employers, regularly meets with university students interested in exploring aerospace careers.
"Raytheon UK is proud to be a longstanding employer in the United Kingdom with pathways to robust careers in advanced technology.”
Raytheon UK’s website describes the company as “focused on Defence, Aerospace, Cyber and Intelligence with sites across the UK".
In the email to HWU, the Raytheon UK employee indicated that the company’s status as “one of the biggest defence industry companies in the world” is the reason it sometimes draws protests from student groups.
Raytheon UK did not reply when asked if it only discussed careers in its aerospace with attendees, and not any careers connected to weapons systems or defence more broadly.
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), which represents a wide range of university staff in the UK, expressed concern over the university’s relationship with Raytheon UK.
“It is bad enough that Heriot-Watt, while touting its positive role on the global stage, is inviting an arms company like Raytheon onto campus.
“That the university’s bosses are also spying on their own students on the company’s behalf is a scandal and plumbs new depths.
“Heriot-Watt must stop colluding with arms companies and protect democratic space for students to protest against genocide and crimes against humanity.”
