Police chiefs call on Boris Johnson to adopt widely recognised definition of Islamophobia Senior police chiefs say they no longer have concerns that current definition will hinder counter-terror ops

Boris Johnson is under pressure to accept the widely-recognised definition of Islamophobia after it emerged that two of the country’s top police officers have agreed it would not undermine counter-terrorism operations.

A letter seen by i from Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, and Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, Britain’s top anti-terrorism officer, says they have been reassured by a group of MPs and peers that the definition would not hinder their work in fighting extremism.

The intervention is crucial because the government and Conservative Party have so far resisted calls to adopt the definition of Islamophobia, developed by MPs and peers on the all party parliamentary group on British Muslims, following widespread consultation with the community, amid claims it would hinder free speech and stop police investigating terrorists.

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The definition has been adopted by all other political parties, including the Conservative Party in Scotland, a number of trade unions and the London mayor.

Hate crime concerns

In May, it emerged that Mr Hewitt had written to the then Prime Minister, Theresa May, expressing concern that the definition would “undermine many elements of counter-terrorism powers and policies”.

Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness APPG definition

Members of the APPG, including Baroness Warsi, a former Conservative Party chairman, accused the police chief of scaremongering, because the definition has no legally binding status.

The top police officers met APPG members who reassured them that it would not clash with existing laws on hate crime, and that the definition carries a series of examples – similar to the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Welcome assurances

In a letter to the APPG, dated 27 June but has only now come to light, Mr Hewitt and Assistant Commissioner Basu say: “As you are aware, we were concerned about the potential for the definition to be used to challenge legitimate free speech, and to be used as a vehicle to criticise and undermine counter-terrorism policing.



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“We very much welcome your assurance that there is no intent for the definition to have such an impact, or for it to attain a legally binding status. Our concerns centred on what we believed to be a single line definition.

“We are assured by your confirmation that the definition includes examples and case studies similar to those provided in the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.

“A definition that includes this further context should address our concerns about the potential impact on our work in countering terrorism and violent extremism.”

Confidence of Muslim community

The letter also makes clear the police chiefs’ unhappiness that Mr Hewitt’s earlier letter to Mrs May had been leaked to The Times, which they acknowledge damaged community relations.

They add: “We recognise the negative impact that the leaking of the letter to the Prime Minister has had on the confidence of Muslim communities and their relationship with policing and the Counter-Terrorism Advisory Network.

“You have our assurance that this letter was not leaked by anyone in policing … We will continue to prioritise work to tackle hate crime in all its forms and to repair the damage to community relations caused by this leak.”