COUNCIL staff are to receive special training on how to spot potential terrorists.

Staff will be trained in identifying and reporting members of the public, school pupils and council workers who may be at risk of becoming terrorists.

The programme is part of the Prevent Strategy, a key UK Government counter-terrorism measure.

It aims to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

At a meeting of the council's policy and resources committee this week, councillors agreed to adopt the strategy and allow existing and new staff to participate in the training.

The council will run a series of workshops to train staff, who will be expected to develop a good understanding of how to deal with potential threats.

Council staff will be asked to report anything suspicious and teachers will also have to report any concerns they have.

During the debate Councillor Jim MacLeod said he was pleased the subject was being brought out into the open but also raised a point of concern.

Cllr MacLeod said: "I welcome this, it is something we need to discuss.

"We are just a year after what happened in Manchester, we need to work out what creates and causes this and stop it.

"We do need to take action but I'm fearful as to where this could lead.

"Where does it start and stop?

"I wouldn't like us to see us become more of an Orwellian society."

Councillor Elizabeth Robertson pointed out that the strategy revolves around safeguarding and does not involve any profiling.

Committee convener Cllr Stephen McCabe said: "Terrorism can affect Inverclyde the same as it affected Manchester.

"This is something we should be fully supporting."