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View Full Version : UK Muslim Officers Want Bigger Role



sonz
06-21-2006, 07:10 AM
CAIRO — After a recent massive raid on a Muslim house in east London widened the confidence gap between the Muslim minority and Scotland Yard, Muslim officers want a bigger role in the anti-terror operations, the Guardian reported Tuesday, June 20.

"There are Muslim officers involved in anti-terrorism work but we need more of them, and for some of them to play a senior role," said Superintendent Dal Babu, chairman of the Association of Muslim Police.

He added that police should seek greater involvement by Muslim officers who know the community and have a deeper understanding of cultural issues.

"The Muslim community is totally committed to fighting terrorism. It is vital that our voices are heard."

There are 300 Muslim officers in the 31,000-strong Metropolitan police.

Murad Qureshi, a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) which supervises London police, has recommended an overhaul of Scotland Yard after the high-profile raid which involved 250 policemen.

British police have apologized to the Muslim minority for the raid which resulted in the arrest and shooting of two Muslim brothers on suspicion of involvement in a terrorist plot.

Mohammed Abdul Kahar, 23, his brother Abul Koyair, were later released without charges and are considering legal actions against police.

More Recruits

"If you don't have Muslim officers to put into surveillance cars, you can give up any hope of doing covert operations in some areas," Phillips said.

Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, also called for a debate about fast-tracking more Muslims into Scotland Yard.

Addressing the Social Policy Forum, he wondered whether "our security services and police fit for purpose?"

Phillips asserted that highly-trained professional officers from a range of backgrounds should have been recruited for anti-terror operations.

"If you don't have Muslim officers to put into surveillance cars, you can give up any hope of doing covert operations in some areas.

"And that means you are flying blind in operations - endangering officers and the public. That's where things go wrong."

The expert cited the example of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, where the law was changed to allow it to recruit half of its new staff from the Catholic community.

Phillips warned that every time an anti-terror operation goes wrong "it further alienates communities who want to help in the fight against terrorism."

British lawmakers warned that anti-terror police raids risk harming relations with the Muslim minority, estimated at 1.8 million.

British Muslims have been urged to boycott the police, accused of unjustly targeting the minority.

"From today until this 'terroristisation' of the Muslim community is stopped immediately I believe all Muslims should withdraw their support," Yvonne Ridley, a journalist and member of the political party Respect, recently said.

Ridley, a patron of Stop Political Terror, wanted people "to boycott the police and refuse to cooperate with them in any way, shape or form."

http://islamonline.net/English/News/2006-06/20/03.shtml
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Joe98
06-21-2006, 07:13 AM
Why is the press release from Cairo ?????
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