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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Inquiry into embassy police row | Inquiry into embassy police row |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair has ordered an inquiry after a Muslim constable was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in London. | Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair has ordered an inquiry after a Muslim constable was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in London. |
| Sir Ian says he wants an "urgent review of the situation and a full report". | Sir Ian says he wants an "urgent review of the situation and a full report". |
| The Sun newspaper said the officer was reassigned on "moral grounds" as he objected to Israeli actions in Lebanon. | The Sun newspaper said the officer was reassigned on "moral grounds" as he objected to Israeli actions in Lebanon. |
| But the Association of Muslim Police Officers said it was a "welfare issue" - the officer had Middle Eastern relatives and felt unsafe in that role. | But the Association of Muslim Police Officers said it was a "welfare issue" - the officer had Middle Eastern relatives and felt unsafe in that role. |
| The officer, who has been named as Pc Alexander Omar Basha, is attached to the Scotland Yard's Diplomatic Protection Group. | The officer, who has been named as Pc Alexander Omar Basha, is attached to the Scotland Yard's Diplomatic Protection Group. |
| We're going down a very, very slippery slope if we then start having postings based on individual officers' conscience Supt Dal Babu Association of Muslim Police Officers | We're going down a very, very slippery slope if we then start having postings based on individual officers' conscience Supt Dal Babu Association of Muslim Police Officers |
| He has a Syrian father and a Lebanese wife. | He has a Syrian father and a Lebanese wife. |
| During the summer, when Israel was involved in a month-long conflict with Lebanese militants, the Association of Muslim Police Officers said Pc Basha had asked to be excused from his duties because he felt "uncomfortable and unsafe". | During the summer, when Israel was involved in a month-long conflict with Lebanese militants, the Association of Muslim Police Officers said Pc Basha had asked to be excused from his duties because he felt "uncomfortable and unsafe". |
| Superintendent Dal Babu, from the association, told BBC News the officer's reassignment had nothing to do with politics but was an "issue around the welfare of a particular officer". | Superintendent Dal Babu, from the association, told BBC News the officer's reassignment had nothing to do with politics but was an "issue around the welfare of a particular officer". |
| Supt Babu said Pc Basha was now back on diplomatic protection group duties and that "if an incident happens at the Israeli embassy he will deal with it". | Supt Babu said Pc Basha was now back on diplomatic protection group duties and that "if an incident happens at the Israeli embassy he will deal with it". |
| What we don't want is a situation where one particular section of the community is given special reasons for not performing duties because that will simply alienate the rest Lord Mackenzie | What we don't want is a situation where one particular section of the community is given special reasons for not performing duties because that will simply alienate the rest Lord Mackenzie |
| Supt Babu accepted that excusing officers from assignments because of moral beliefs would be unacceptable. | Supt Babu accepted that excusing officers from assignments because of moral beliefs would be unacceptable. |
| "I think that we're going down a very, very slippery slope if we then start having postings based on individual officers' conscience," he said. | "I think that we're going down a very, very slippery slope if we then start having postings based on individual officers' conscience," he said. |
| "We can't pick and choose." | "We can't pick and choose." |
| Lord Mackenzie, former president of the Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, said the move sounded like "a step too far". | Lord Mackenzie, former president of the Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, said the move sounded like "a step too far". |
| Moral grounds | Moral grounds |
| "If officers have political, religious, ideological or moral views about things then they've got to put their duties above that because their service is to the public. | "If officers have political, religious, ideological or moral views about things then they've got to put their duties above that because their service is to the public. |
| "What we don't want is a situation where one particular section of the community is given special reasons for not performing duties because that will simply alienate the rest." | "What we don't want is a situation where one particular section of the community is given special reasons for not performing duties because that will simply alienate the rest." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The police cannot ever let their personal feelings interfere with their work Miki, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The police cannot ever let their personal feelings interfere with their work Miki, London Send us your comments |
| A Scotland Yard spokesman said it would sometimes consider a special request to be moved on moral grounds - but added it reserved the right to post an officer anywhere. | A Scotland Yard spokesman said it would sometimes consider a special request to be moved on moral grounds - but added it reserved the right to post an officer anywhere. |
| The Metropolitan Police Authority, which oversees the force's work, pointed out that police officers took an oath of allegiance. | The Metropolitan Police Authority, which oversees the force's work, pointed out that police officers took an oath of allegiance. |
| The authority, which has also asked for a report, said officers often had to undertake duties where the subject conflicted with their personal beliefs. | The authority, which has also asked for a report, said officers often had to undertake duties where the subject conflicted with their personal beliefs. |
| But MPA member Peter Herbert said the row was a "ridiculous fuss about nothing" and attacked Sir Ian over an "unwise judgement" on opting so quickly for a review. | |
| "From a security point of view, the Met would be seriously criticised if thisguy has relatives in Lebanon and his picture was used around the world todemonstrate the irony about having a Muslim defending the Israeli embassy in theUK." | |
| Lord Janner, former president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, saidit was a "grave error" to allow a police officer to avoid his duty. | |
| The Israeli embassy in London, meanwhile, said it was confident the Met Police would find "a satisfactory solution to this particular problem". | The Israeli embassy in London, meanwhile, said it was confident the Met Police would find "a satisfactory solution to this particular problem". |