Race hate laws should be used to crack down on extremist groups whose activities are prompting a rise in anti-Semitism at Britain’s universities, vice-chancellors are to be warned by ministers today.

The police are to be told to use the Public Order Act 1986 outlawing the spreading of racial hatred where there is enough evidence to bring prosecutions against Islamic extremists for speeches on student campuses.

The hardening of the approach towards anti-Semitism by the Government follows growing evidence collected by an all-party group at Westminster about a rise in attacks since the Iraq war.

Ministers are particularly concerned about the infiltration of campuses by Islamic extremist groups who have stirred up hatred against Israel. Vice-chancellors will be warned they must not ignore anti-Jewish activity on campuses and must prevent prejudiced lecturers, guest speakers and extremist political organisations stirring up hatred of Israel.

Phil Woolas, the communities minister, who will announce the Government’s measures, said the findings of the all-party parliamentary report on anti-Semitism were “very worrying”, adding: “Our response will be far tougher than anticipated. We are very worried about Islamic anti-Semitism on campuses. In this country we tend to see it as something of the past. It is not.”

Guidelines for universities are expected to say that campus authorities should record all complaints of anti-Semitism made by students, including statements or speeches.

The report by the all-party anti-Semitism group said that Jewish students felt “isolated and unsupported,” and that pro-Palestine debates were being used as a “vehicle for anti-Jewish language”. It also noted that casual anti-Jewish “banter” was becoming increasingly socially acceptable. The Government will criticise the boycotting of academics working in Israel by some university departments and say lecturers who oppose boycotts must be supported.

No new legislation is planned but police will be pressed to prosecute where they have evidence that anti-Jewish rhetoric amounts to a breach of existing race-hate laws. University-vice chancellors are also being warned to bar speakers who have a record of preaching hatred against Jews.

Ministers will announce that Britain will sign up to an EU-wide protocol against anti-Semitism when it has been endorsed by the EU states.