A source in Lancashire Police says that students are more likely to get searched by police at the train station than other group of society.

According to the source, young persons and students are more vulnerable to bag searches because they fit the profile age of a terrorist or gang-member. Police are told by seniors to concentrate on these members of society.

However they are told not just too exclusively discriminate against young persons and searches can also be conducted on other groups of society.

The source said: “We do not discriminate against students it just appears that way because they fit the profile given to us.”

However they are told not just too exclusively search young persons and searches can also be conducted on other groups of society.

Andrew Bradbury a spokesperson for the Police denies that the searches are specifically directed at students. He said “Police searches, particularly those connected with terrorism are intelligence led and not age linked.”

This power comes from Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which allows the police to stop and search anyone in a specific area. The basis of such searches must be intelligence led.

The campaign group Liberty is looking into the issue.