SENIOR police representatives will hear views on terrorism and counter- terrorism from Asian men at a debate today.

An invited audience of men will recount their experiences of terrorist activity and policing at the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) hearing.

Among those giving presentations are Munir Zamir, a Waltham Forest resident, Suraj Sehgal, director of the Hindu Council UK and Dr Jasdev Singh Rai, director of the Sikh Human Rights Group.

The event is part of a series of five MPA hearings giving members of the community an opportunity to express their views on counter-terrorist policing.

Senior members of the British police services and government representatives will hear a round-up of the opinions revealed at a sixth and final debate on Thursday, December 7.

Lord Toby Harris, an MPA member with special responsibilities for counter-terrorism, said: "At present some young Muslim men feel that their communities and cultures are isolated within British society and, to varying degrees, that they are under siege, when everything from their religion to the way they dress is being endlessly debated in the media spotlight.

"We want to hear directly from Asian men, from both Muslim and other Asian communities, what their personal experiences are in the current climate and what they believe can be done to improve community relations."

The MPA has already heard the views of young Londoners, businesses, tourist industry representatives and local government as well as faith groups and women's groups.

A series of confidential focus groups with students at London universities are also planned to discuss terrorism and extremism, in particular the issue of terrorist recruitment and radicalisation on campus.

Lord Harris added: "This is an area of specific concern at the moment and the Authority wants to gather as much information as possible to inform our work and help us to gain a better understanding of the nature of the threat and to make concrete recommendations for the future of policing in the capital."