Plan to consult Muslim leaders on raids shelved
by Peter Walker and agencies
Police have scrapped a plan to allow Muslim community leaders to examine intelligence ahead of terror raids, it emerged today.
The proposal, which would have given a small number of community leaders advance information about planned raids, but no right of veto, was put forward after the badly botched operation in Forest Gate, east London, last summer. But the idea - raised last September by the Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Ian Blair - will now not be introduced, a spokesman for the force said.
The Met had to issue a formal apology after Mohammed Abdul Kahar, then 23, was shot in the shoulder at close range by a policeman investigating an alleged chemical bomb plot, while his brother and other family members were dragged out of the house and handcuffed.
It soon emerged that neither brother had any connection with terrorism.
Under Sir Ian's proposals, approximately four prominent community figures, who would be security vetted but not asked to sign the Official Secrets Act, would be allowed to assess intelligence in advance, although police would be under no obligation to follow their advice.
In January, the Association of Chief Police Officers' head of community engagement, Commander Richard Gargini, backed a policy that would commit all forces to such consultation.
"What we intend to do is invite selected, influential leaders from the Muslim community to come in and assist us when we are planning and dealing with new information," he told the BBC, saying such a method had "worked extremely well" in tackling gun crime in London's black communities.
However, an ACPO spokeswoman said today it was no longer pursuing a single policy for all of England and Wales and individual forces could decide whether to consult local figures on an "ad hoc" basis.
Pertinent Links:
1) Plan to consult Muslim leaders on raids shelved
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