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Ex-Met chief Ghaffur says Luton chants and placards incited hatred
Justin Davenport13.03.09
A former Met officer who was Britain's most senior Muslim policeman has condemned this week's protest against troops returning from Iraq.
Tarique Ghaffur, until November an assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard, said he was “appalled” at the behaviour of Islamist activists who waved banners accusing the soldiers of being cowards and extremists.
He has written to Gillian Parker, chief constable of Bedfordshire Police, asking her to confirm that her force would mount a “robust” investigation.
In his letter he said he believed the protesters' “chants and placards were insulting to the degree that they incited hatred and breach of peace”.
Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, known as The Poachers, marched through Luton in a homecoming parade on Tuesday.
During the parade, a small group of Muslim protesters brandished placards with slogans including “Anglian Soldiers: cowards, killers, extremists”.
Mr Ghaffur set up a charity called the Community Safety Foundation after leaving Scotland Yard following a race row with the Met leadership.
He said of the Luton protesters: “The actions of this minority does not represent public interest and the views of the wider Muslim communities who acknowledge and support the brave efforts of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Bedfordshire police said officers were investigating to see if any offences had been committed “on either side”.
After a counter-protest, an 18-year-old man from Luton was charged with racially aggravated harassment and will appear before magistrates next week. A second man, in his forties, was issued with a fixed penalty notice.
Reader views (4)
Why is it that the only people arrested were non muslims who were there originally to welcome home and support our troops and yet ended up being arrested for protesting again these despicable people.The police have it all wrong as usual.
- Dennis (Expat), New York, USA
Luton was another example of the police policy of apeasing muslims,that so called demonstration should never have been allowed on the grounds that it was or likely to lead to a disturbance of the peace,and when it did happen those taking part in it should have been arrested and charged.
- Kev, London-UK
Please stop giving this odious man any publicity.
He's had his fun, and our money, make him fade into the obscurity he richly deserves.
- Cap, London
It’s a little late to lecture on race relations, when you took the money and ran you left your credibility behind.
- Gary, London
