Menu
02/08/2005
‘No racial profiling’ says Blears
Police should not use ‘racial profiling’ during anti-terror investigations, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears has warned.
Speaking ahead of a meeting with senior Muslim leaders today, Ms Blears said that police should only use stop-and-search powers based on intelligence and not by targeting specific racial groups.
The Home Office Minister also said that police needed to explain to communities how the powers were used.
There had been fears amongst the UK’s Muslim community that Muslims were being specifically targeted for police searches following last month’s bomb attacks in London.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme, Ms Blears said that she did not endorse the use of racial profiling and said that stop-and-search powers should not be used in a “discriminatory fashion”. She said: “Picking up people on the basis that they are Muslim is never going to get the result you want.”
Ms Blears met with Muslim community leaders in Oldham on Tuesday, in the first of a series of eight meetings planned at improving relations and rooting out extremists, in the wake of last month’s bomb attacks and attempted attacks on the capital’s transport network.
The meetings will discuss a number of issues, including security, engaging with young people and women and tackling extremism and radicalisation.
Ms Blears wrote to MPS before the meetings to set out the issues identified in the recent cross-party terror talks hosted by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
The letter said: “Muslim leaders recognise that it is not enough just to condemn the bombings but that they must also act with us to tackle extremism. The government and leaders of all parties in turn recognised that it is our shared responsibility to work in partnership with the Muslim community to achieve this.”
Mr Clarke is due to hold follow-up talks with Muslim leaders on September 20 to outline proposals.
(KMcA/SP)
Speaking ahead of a meeting with senior Muslim leaders today, Ms Blears said that police should only use stop-and-search powers based on intelligence and not by targeting specific racial groups.
The Home Office Minister also said that police needed to explain to communities how the powers were used.
There had been fears amongst the UK’s Muslim community that Muslims were being specifically targeted for police searches following last month’s bomb attacks in London.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme, Ms Blears said that she did not endorse the use of racial profiling and said that stop-and-search powers should not be used in a “discriminatory fashion”. She said: “Picking up people on the basis that they are Muslim is never going to get the result you want.”
Ms Blears met with Muslim community leaders in Oldham on Tuesday, in the first of a series of eight meetings planned at improving relations and rooting out extremists, in the wake of last month’s bomb attacks and attempted attacks on the capital’s transport network.
The meetings will discuss a number of issues, including security, engaging with young people and women and tackling extremism and radicalisation.
Ms Blears wrote to MPS before the meetings to set out the issues identified in the recent cross-party terror talks hosted by Prime Minister Tony Blair and Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
The letter said: “Muslim leaders recognise that it is not enough just to condemn the bombings but that they must also act with us to tackle extremism. The government and leaders of all parties in turn recognised that it is our shared responsibility to work in partnership with the Muslim community to achieve this.”
Mr Clarke is due to hold follow-up talks with Muslim leaders on September 20 to outline proposals.
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
02 March 2005
Muslim schoolgirl wins court case
The Appeal Court has ruled that a Muslim schoolgirl was unlawfully excluded from school because she wore traditional Muslim dress instead of the school uniform. Shabina Begum was sent home from Denbigh High School in Luton, because she was wearing a full-length traditional Muslim gown, known as a jilbab.
Muslim schoolgirl wins court case
The Appeal Court has ruled that a Muslim schoolgirl was unlawfully excluded from school because she wore traditional Muslim dress instead of the school uniform. Shabina Begum was sent home from Denbigh High School in Luton, because she was wearing a full-length traditional Muslim gown, known as a jilbab.
31 October 2006
Prince’s Peshawar trip cancelled
Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall are to remain in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad over security concerns. The couple were scheduled to visit the north western town of Peshawar, but furious Muslim leaders have called for protests across the country following a major security operation in the region by the Pakistani military.
Prince’s Peshawar trip cancelled
Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall are to remain in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad over security concerns. The couple were scheduled to visit the north western town of Peshawar, but furious Muslim leaders have called for protests across the country following a major security operation in the region by the Pakistani military.
19 July 2005
PM meets with senior Muslim leaders
Prime Minister Tony Blair has met with a group of senior Muslim leaders to discuss the issue of terrorism, in the aftermath of the London bombings.
PM meets with senior Muslim leaders
Prime Minister Tony Blair has met with a group of senior Muslim leaders to discuss the issue of terrorism, in the aftermath of the London bombings.
08 August 2005
Government considers ‘ethnic rebranding’
Home Office Minister Hazel Blears has suggested that ethnic minority groups could be ‘renamed’ in order to express pride in both their ethnic roots and their Britishness.
Government considers ‘ethnic rebranding’
Home Office Minister Hazel Blears has suggested that ethnic minority groups could be ‘renamed’ in order to express pride in both their ethnic roots and their Britishness.
09 September 2008
Top Muslim Cop Suspended Amid Race Case
Britain's top muslim cop has been suspended from duties amid the furore of a high profile race discrimination tribunal. Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has been put on "authorised leave" from the Metropolitan Police, over fears the media coverage of the case could compromise the "operational effectiveness" of the force.
Top Muslim Cop Suspended Amid Race Case
Britain's top muslim cop has been suspended from duties amid the furore of a high profile race discrimination tribunal. Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has been put on "authorised leave" from the Metropolitan Police, over fears the media coverage of the case could compromise the "operational effectiveness" of the force.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
