DOZENS of people have been reported to police as part of a new scheme to root out potential terrorists in East Lancashire.

The Channel Project aims to prevent 'vulnerable people' becoming radicalised.

It encourages citizens to report any 'worrying behaviour' - such as a schoolboy drawing pictures of bombs or bus passengers spouting extremist views - to a special hotline.

Police then complete background checks on individuals before a panel meets to decide if any action needs to be taken.

Interventions can range from a simple chat to a complex mentoring and counselling process.

Critics said the Channel Project was a step too far in terms of civil liberties. They said it could cause fear in communities.

But police said it was 'not about spying, but identifying vulnerable people and helping them'.

Blackburn and Burnley are two of 28 national pilot schemes launched last November after concerns that many neighbours in Leeds had suspicions about the 7/7 London bombers but did not report anything to police.

Dozens of East Lancashire people, the majority aged between 15 and 24, have been reported to police for having either extremist Islamic views, far-right leanings and or being IRA sympathisers.

The information has not prompted any criminal investigations.

So far the scheme has relied on tip-offs from people in public sector jobs, such as teachers, social workers and bin men, or workers who come into contact with the public a lot, such as bus drivers.

But now police are urging the wider community to report their concerns to the hotline.

Examples of the types of behaviour that could be reported include:

• A school pupil who is obsessed with drawing bombs and guns
• A bus passenger expressing racist views
• New neighbours behaving oddly, such as keeping curtains shut all day
• A child who begins using extremist websites
• A vulnerable loner who suddenly gets a large group of new friends.

Inspector Paul Goodall, the Prevent and Channel co-ordinator for East Lancashire, said the project aimed to target those with 'extremist views’.

He said: “We are looking at people who would not normally come onto our radar.

“In their behaviour they may not actually be doing anything wrong, but if we have concerns about how they could develop, it is our role to engage with that person.

“The Channel Project is all about supporting vulnerable individuals.

“We have run some events explaining where we are coming from and understanding is growing.

“This is a massive change for us because these people are not criminals.

“We hope and expect that the numbers of referrals will increase.”

Jack Straw, Blackburn MP, said a fine balance needed to be found to protect the public and not infringe on people’s privacy.

Mr Straw, the former Justice Minister, said: “The horror of terrorism is that the victims are chosen at random and as someone who was involved in an IRA attack in the 1970s I know that it is one of those areas that the police cannot ignore.

“I am reassured that this project is in the hands of Lancashire police, who have a fantastic record in working with the community.”

Coun Salim Mulla, chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said it was a 'step too far'.

He said: "People in the community already know what their responsibilities are and people will report to the police if they see anything suspicious.

“I think this could just create fear among the community.”

Civil liberty group JUST said it had major concerns.

A spokesman said: “It has led to the disproportionate criminalisation of BME and particularly Muslim communities and it locates the burden for fighting terrorism on the Muslim community, despite the fact that the majority are peace-loving citizens of the UK."

Coun Nadeem Ahmed, Pendle's deputy mayor, said there needed to be more eduction on the issue.

The 31-year-old solicitor backed the project: "Personally I feel that we all need to work together on this issue to engage with anyone who is a risk.

"This scheme will help provide more information to people who have those concerns."

Partners in the Channel scheme locally are the Prince's Trust, Samaritans, councils and football teams and the youth inclusion support panel.

For more information or to report anyone to the Channel team call 01254 353666 or the anti-terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321.