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Muslim police officer suing Met | Muslim police officer suing Met |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A Muslim police officer is taking legal action against the Metropolitan force following his removal from a top protection squad. | A Muslim police officer is taking legal action against the Metropolitan force following his removal from a top protection squad. |
Amjad Farooq, 39, was a member of Diplomatic Protection Group SO16, which guards dignitaries such as Tony Blair. | Amjad Farooq, 39, was a member of Diplomatic Protection Group SO16, which guards dignitaries such as Tony Blair. |
PC Farooq had been working for the DPG for six weeks when he was told he had failed his security checks. | PC Farooq had been working for the DPG for six weeks when he was told he had failed his security checks. |
His solicitor, Lawrence Davies, told the Independent: "Muslims are labelled guilty by association." | His solicitor, Lawrence Davies, told the Independent: "Muslims are labelled guilty by association." |
The newspaper also says PC Farooq denies any links to extremist groups or inappropriate behaviour. | |
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been notified of an employment tribunal claim by an MPS PC alleging discrimination on the grounds of race and religious belief." | A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been notified of an employment tribunal claim by an MPS PC alleging discrimination on the grounds of race and religious belief." |
PC Farooq was a firearms specialist working for the Wiltshire Constabulary when he was transferred to the DPG. | PC Farooq was a firearms specialist working for the Wiltshire Constabulary when he was transferred to the DPG. |
Security checks | Security checks |
Its main role is to provide protection at government, diplomatic and Metropolitan Police sites. All officers within the DPG must undergo security vetting, including a counter-terrorism check (CTC). | Its main role is to provide protection at government, diplomatic and Metropolitan Police sites. All officers within the DPG must undergo security vetting, including a counter-terrorism check (CTC). |
PC Farooq had been accepted into the DPG when he was told in December 2003 that he had failed his CTC. | PC Farooq had been accepted into the DPG when he was told in December 2003 that he had failed his CTC. |
PC Farooq's solicitor, Lawrence Davies, said: "We live in a society where it is possible to point a finger at a Muslim abroad and say that they have WMD and are a threat to national security and no questions are asked. | PC Farooq's solicitor, Lawrence Davies, said: "We live in a society where it is possible to point a finger at a Muslim abroad and say that they have WMD and are a threat to national security and no questions are asked. |
"Now those who 'protect' us feel emboldened to point the same finger at British Muslims. | "Now those who 'protect' us feel emboldened to point the same finger at British Muslims. |
"Muslims are labelled guilty by association. Doubt is insufficient to save them. They are assumed guilty before being proven innocent. | "Muslims are labelled guilty by association. Doubt is insufficient to save them. They are assumed guilty before being proven innocent. |
"We are very close to living in the days of Salem. | "We are very close to living in the days of Salem. |
"If the head of counter-terrorism becomes a Witch-Finder General then any Muslim or Muslim-looking person or sympathiser best take cover." | "If the head of counter-terrorism becomes a Witch-Finder General then any Muslim or Muslim-looking person or sympathiser best take cover." |
Security checks | Security checks |
Peter Smyth of the Metropolitan Police Federation said the necessary checks should have been carried out before PC Farooq's transfer. | |
"All police employees should be vetted before they are recruited and given a contract. | "All police employees should be vetted before they are recruited and given a contract. |
"It seems to us a bit perverse to do otherwise. If these checks had been carried out in advance then presumably he would not have been accepted as a transfer from Wiltshire." | "It seems to us a bit perverse to do otherwise. If these checks had been carried out in advance then presumably he would not have been accepted as a transfer from Wiltshire." |
Superintendent Dal Babu from the Association of Muslim Police told the BBC that officers, particularly those in sensitive roles, had to go through stringent checks before being assigned their duties. | Superintendent Dal Babu from the Association of Muslim Police told the BBC that officers, particularly those in sensitive roles, had to go through stringent checks before being assigned their duties. |
"There are three levels of security in the police service, and all police staff are required to have a security check at the most basic level and that's reviewed every 10 years. | |
"In addition to that if you then have access to firearms, or you're protecting diplomats then you're required to have a high level of security. | "In addition to that if you then have access to firearms, or you're protecting diplomats then you're required to have a high level of security. |
"And then there's a top level of security, which is [for] the most confidential information." | "And then there's a top level of security, which is [for] the most confidential information." |
Another Met officer, Alexander Basha, was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens in central London last month after expressing concern over his family links with Lebanon. | Another Met officer, Alexander Basha, was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens in central London last month after expressing concern over his family links with Lebanon. |