GETTY Serving police officers have backed up Donald Trump's claim

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Serving officers in terrorist hotspots including London and Birmingham said that forces are becoming increasingly nervy over the rising threat of Islamic State (ISIS) inspired attacks, with some telling staff not to wear their uniforms in their OWN patrol cars. One officer in London said the firebrand presidential hopeful was “pointing out something plainly obvious” whilst another in Lancashire said the police have to ask local Muslim leaders for PERMISSION before sending patrols into their communities. Their shocking testimonies are in stark contrast to the official responses from politicians and the Metropolitan Police, who have rounded on Mr Trump’s controversial claims. The Republican frontrunner provoked fury across the globe on Monday when he said that all Muslims should be banned from entering America to combat terrorism.

During a tub thumping speech to party activists he also took a swipe at Britain, saying: “We have places in London and other places that are so radicalised that police are afraid for their own lives.” His comments were widely derided by British politicians including David Cameron, who called them “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”. The Metropolitan Police also issued a withering statement saying Mr Trump “could not be more wrong” whilst London Mayor Boris Johnson said his claims were “utter nonsense”. But they have been fatally undermined by members of the rank and file, who have said that fear of Islamist extremism within Britain’s police is widespread despite the protestations of the authorities.

GETTY The outspoken Republican said police are too scared to enter radicalised parts of London

GETTY One serving police officer said Mr Trump 'isn't wrong'

One serving officer in west London said: “Islamification has and is occurring. You have to have extra vigilance in certain parts when you are working." Speaking to Breitbart he added: “When I was a teenage lad in Burnley there were no go white areas. This is the case still nationally, including London where you have to have extra vigilance in certain parts when you are working.” Another officer with Lancashire police said that officers have to “contact local community leaders to get their permission” before they are allowed to patrol in Muslim areas of Preston. And a policeman posted in Yorkshire said police top brass were so afraid of potential terrorist attacks he had been ordered not to wear police uniform in his own patrol car.

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He isn't wrong - our political leaders are best either ill-informed or simply being disingenuous Serving police officer

The anonymous officer wrote on the online forum Police.Community: “I’m not allowed to travel in half blues to work anymore IN MY OWN CAR as we're ’All at risk of attack’ - yet as soon as someone points out the obvious it's 'divisive.'" He added: “In this instance he (Trump) isn't wrong. Our political leaders are best either ill-informed or simply being disingenuous. “He's pointed out something that is plainly obvious, something which I think we aren't as a nation willing to own up to - do you think a US Police Department would ban officers from wearing their uniforms under jackets etc due to FEAR of their cops being killed by extremists? “We implement half measures such as ‘No-one is allowed to come into work half blues, even in your own cars because if you get beheaded it'll be your own fault’. “It would be seen as un-American, un-democratic, not the done thing... In the UK though we accept it”.

IG A petition calling for Donald Trump to be banned from the UK will be debated by MPs

His comments were backed up by another officer, serving with the Met Police, who told LBC Radio: ”There has been a time when it's been advised not to wear half-blues or uniform to and from work. "It's like damage limitation. You try to do the most you can to prevent anything bad from happening. "All intelligence is around you and you do the best with that to essentially stay safe. And if that means taking measures to not identify yourself off-duty too much then so be it. "It's covering your backs. It's a common sense approach."

Wow, what a day. So many foolish people that refuse to acknowledge the tremendous danger and uncertainty of certain people coming into U.S. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2015

Our country is facing a major threat from radical Islamic terrorism. We better get very smart, and very tough, FAST, before it is too late! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 9, 2015

Meanwhile in an interview last year Tom Winsor, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, warned that there are “cities in the Midlands where the police never go” because local communities refuse to engage with law enforcement. Their comments came as more than 200,000 people signed a petition demanding that Mr Trump be banned from Britain for being a “hate preacher”. If successful the petition - which will be debated in parliament - raises the possibility that the billionaire tycoon could be banned from making state visits to the UK as a future US President. But an unrepentant Mr Trump hit back in an interview on American TV last night, claiming that he is “the worst thing that ever happened to ISIS”.