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Bobbies will be taught sharia law and the Koran in 'secret' plan to counter terror at local level
Last updated at 23:07pm on 29.02.08
New lessons: Policemen are to be taught sharia law in a bid to counter extremism at a local level
Lessons in the Islamic faith and culture will become part of the formal training for recruits.
Chief constables said officers will build better relationships by understanding the communities they are policing.
This could prove crucial in rooting out extremism and preventing a terrorist attack, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers.
But critics expressed concern that the plan could foster division, rather than combat it.
It comes after the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK "seems unavoidable".
He later said his remarks had been misinterpreted.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis added: "Of course it is sensible for the police to have an understanding of the Koran and Sharia law as long as we do not allow the situation to slip so that Sharia law is regarded on an equal basis with British law.
"British law is and always must be pre-eminent."
The scheme is part of a wide-ranging strategy to prevent extremist ideas gaining hold in schools, colleges and prisons.
Other initiatives in the 40-page strategy include guidance to parents on how to stop children searching for extremist websites, and intervening where convicted terrorists are suspected of spreading hate in prison.
Police will not have to learn the "depth and complexity" of Sharia law but would be expected to understand Islamic culture.
But critics have described the plan as "politically correct thinking".
Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, said: "Police officers are not there to implement sharia law. They are there to implement British law.
"This idea is misguided. We will only get community cohesion when everybody signs up to being British and following British law."
The so-called Prevent strategy says: "Research last year revealed that the police service would be very low on the list of agencies that the Muslim community would turn to if they had concerns about a member of their community who embraced violent extremism.
"The police service has a long way to go in building a relationship of trust around these issues."
The Chief Constable in charge of the strategy, West Yorkshire's Norman Bettison, said: "We work closely with communities and the majority of police training at the moment in this area is done in partnership with Muslim organisations.
"We are building on this basis of training and emphasising that a basic principle of policing is that officers work with and should understand the communities they are policing.
"The Acpo Prevent strategy recognises this in the context of non-Muslim officers working with Muslim communities.
"These issues can be complex and include nationality, community and religious issues, all of which are interwoven.
"That is what we are trying to get across to officers in our training. The depth and complexity of sharia law is not part of this training.
"The strategy remains in draft form at present and I expect it to be formally adopted by chief officer colleagues after further feedback from partners and communities."
Reader views (13)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I just wanted to clarify what a "Special" is as there is always confusion about this role and that of the PCSO (Police Community Support Officer). A Special is a volunteer (i.e., unpaid and usually in other full time employment) police officer with exactly the same powers as a regular officer. They wear the same uniform and have full powers of arrest which they exercise on a daily basis. In London, they are generally attached to safer neighbourhood teams and are regularly on duty over the weekend period or when other work commitments permit.
- Jlo, London, UK
Very strange how this government have made the Police Service their lap-dogs. No impartiality equals no justice.
- Robert El-Cid., Hull, East Yorks.,
Look, CPD (Continued Professional Development) is an excellent idea and should be ongoing anyway! So, what's the problem? Our law enforcement officers (the police) MUST be aware of ALL communities in Britain including the larger minorities regardless of race or religion. That MUST be part of their job.
That said, when are we going to get more fully fledged police back in the communities? The "specials" or whatever they are called these days do serve a purpose of sorts BUT to get the public's confidence BACK the government must put bobbies back on the beat, which in turn will help reduce minor crime. Everyone (except perhaps the New Labour) recognizes that if minor crime is drastically reduced then crime rates overall are reduced as less people are repeating their crimes and as such less people become serial criminals and escalate their crimes.
- Fraser, Telford Park
The fact that David Davis - Shadow Home Secretary felt the need to preface his response with;"Of course it is sensible for the police to have an understanding of the Koran and sharia law...", shows how mired in political correctness the Tories are and how they are no more fit to govern us than the nu-Labour shower of traitors.
- David Moon, Seaford, East Sussex
Er...why?
- Neil Grinsell, london
And what benefit will be taught the Koran have on extremism? This is just more pc garbage from a government obsessed with multiculturalism while destroying British traditions and replacing them with Utopian theories. Cameroon will stomp at the elections, especially if he addresses immigration and everything it entails.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
He said Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty" - why on earth not?
- Frank, Saarbruecken, Germany
Give me strength. Let's just bend over backwards for Muslims again time. Talk about the squeakiest wheel getting the grease. This is Great Britain, not Islamabad. Everyday it's Muslim this or Sharia that. I am sick of hearing about Muslims; I'd rather read another story about Amy Whitehouse or the McCanns.
- Squiz, Islington
What an absolute waste of time and money, this country is not Muslim, nor do Muslims make up a substantial part of the population so why are we trying to pander to them by implementing a medieval justice system?
- Shiju Kwan, Harrow
They are here, in Great Britain and should adopt British culture, including dress. Their religion is their own personal affair.
- Dr Nick Ashley, Huntingdon England
I agree with the Archbishop, they should not have to choose between religious and state loyalty, it should be between the law or the door! If you don't like it then you know where the airport is and that goes for anybody, no matter what race, religion or sexual orientation. It's about time we stopped making excuses for those that refuse to follow the rules.
- Mark, London
Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said: "Of course it is sensible for the police to have an understanding of the Koran and sharia law..." It isn't sensible at all the Police don't need to have any understanding of this at all as it should not make any difference is a Muslim, Rastafarian or Catholic, we all have to follow a common UK law. So what is the point of the police learning this. this is allowing the extremist to win as they seem to be getting the state that they desire bit by bit. It may take some time but I believe that by taking actions such as these and listening to the likes of Rowan Willams, that Sharia law will become the norm and that the UK is in danger of becoming a Muslim state.
- Steven Patrick M, London, UK
The country has gone mad!
- Fly, London