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This is the moment Sikh activists demanded police officers leave their temple as they tried to recruit worshippers.

Video footage shows members of Sikh Youth UK giving recruitment officers from West Midlands Police their marching orders at a West Midlands Gurdwara.

Police had been allowed by the temple's committee to set up a stall during Diwali last week to recruit members of the Sikh community to join the force.

But phone video footage shows Sikh Youth UK members approaching the officers and demanding they leave - which they eventually do.

The whole exchange was captured on film by the group and put on YouTube.

It is believed the Gurdwara involved was the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Pleck, Walsall.

During the confrontation, a member of Sikh Youth UK tells the police officers: "Pack up your bags and go.

"West Midlands Police is banned from Sikh spaces.

"You are interfering in Indian matters, you are spying on the Sikh community.

"We are asking you nicely and humbly to pack your stuff up."

The video then ends with the officers packing up their stall and leaving.





Sikh Youth UK has been angry with West Midlands Police since the September counter-terrorism raids.

They claimed the force and Indian intelligence were targeting Sikhs, after such claims emerged in the Indian media.

A spokesman for Sikh Youth UK said: "The video features Sikh Youth UK's Deepa Singh, along with several other members, reinforcing the ban on West Midlands Police from official duty in Gurdwaras."

He said the decision to ban the force was because it was "colluding with Indian authorities".

He added: "This information was used to conduct a series of raids on five Sikhs which did not lead to any arrests, but was only good for destabilising movements of Sikh activism."

The group said there was a lot of support from the Sikh community about their action.

"The decision to remove police from holding a recruitment drive in a Gurdwara on Diwali was a community-led one," the statement said.

"A Gurdwara is open to all, of any background or status, to attend as congregation, including staff of West Midlands Police.

"However, the sacred platforms available in a Gurdwara are only open to be used by those who have the backing of the community, which for now does not include the force."

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: "Last week West Midlands Police attended a recruitment event at a Gurdwara in Walsall.

"During this event one member of the public had a heated discussion with an officer.

"Following this, it was decided the best course of action was for police to leave the event.

"West Midlands Police has excellent relationships with its communities, this includes the Sikh community and officers continue to be welcomed into Gurdwaras and other religious buildings."