Five University of Birmingham students were suspended following a national demonstration on campus on Wednesday 29 January (Online report, 30 January). An email from Dr Chris Twine, director of student services, was sent around the College of Social Sciences stating that the five students "have been suspended from study and barred from University premises with immediate effect" and are "not to be allowed access to any teaching or learning activities".

These suspensions follow a national meeting and demonstration at the university, which culminated in an occupation of the Aston Webb's Great Hall. When the students attempted to peacefully leave the hall, they were kettled by police officers and university security. The five were held for more than four hours, before being released, one by one, to be questioned by the police at 6pm that evening. Along with eight other protesters they were held for more than 27 hours in Birmingham police stations.

The legality of the arrests is in question – a previous high court ruling has deemed arrest to obtain details as unlawful – and yet the 13 students were arrested for not handing over their full details at the behest of the police officers kettling them.

These suspensions are at odds with freedom of speech and the right to protest, setting a threatening precedent for how dissent is dealt with on campuses across the country. These actions follow recent suspensions at Sussex University, which have directly targeted those who use their democratic right to speak up and demonstrate for the betterment of education. We believe that the suspensions at the University of Birmingham are further evidence of the contempt for freedom of expression, both political and academic, in the contemporary university. It is becoming more apparent that those who manage our education have very little interest in serving those students and lecturers without whom education would not be possible. We condemn these suspensions in the strongest terms and call for the immediate reinstatement of the students affected.

