Lord Carlile of Berriew told MPs not enough had been done in the past to check the credentials of imams arriving in the UK from abroad.
The QC also told the Commons' all-party Home Affairs Select Committee young Muslim men were being radicalised in British universities, as well as in prisons and young offenders' institutions.
In the wake of the conviction of firebrand cleric Abu Hamza last week, Lord Carlile said: "I would be amazed if there were more than 20 such clerics in the country - but that is a pure guess.
"My worry is that they are in places such as colleges and custodial institutions where there are larger numbers than elsewhere of impressionable young men.
"A small number can have a disproportionate effect if they are in the wrong place."
Revealing his fears about radicalisation in higher education, he said: "If you talk particularly to young female students in the larger, more rackety universities, there is a degree of concern expressed about some societies in these universities where women are excluded and where there might be radicalisation."
Some of these groups were "pretty intimidating", he added.
Lord Carlile, the Government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said: "Very little has been done in the past to look in detail at the past history of imams who have gone into some cities."
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It makes me both sad and angry that these so called clerics preach such hatred, and demand death to the "infidels", ie non Muslims. They pander to the thick, narrow minded and poorly educated, as well as to their own selfish and brutal agendas. Christians, Jews and Muslims ALL pray to the SAME God, whether he is called God or Allah, and therefore by demanding death to non Muslims, they are demanding death to their own brothers and sisters, who were all created by the same one true God. These so called Imams, - and they insult this honourable title, will face God one day, and will have to answer for their filth and poisonous rhetoric.
If its true then round them up and ship them out. ASAP
Christian, I wasnt created by a so called greater power, I crawled out of a primordial swamp and evolved into a highly intelligent mega being! In fact, I am so intelligent I dont buy into any religious ramblings with a blinkered view! Unlike anyone who believes the destiny of everything is controlled by a man with a white beard, who lives in the clouds! Sounds like someone invented that when they experimented with LSD! Religion, the biggest swizz since the Nation Lottery!!!!!!!!!