Muslim police in 'hatred' warning: Anti-terror tactics 'promote Islamophobia', say officers

Radicalised: Abdulmutallab

Muslim police officers have warned that the Government's anti-terrorism strategy is an 'affront to British values' and encourages Islamophobia.



The National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) told MPs that it was wrong to blame Islam for recent terrorist attacks and warned that far-Right organisations were a greater threat to national security than Islam.



In a seven page memorandum to a parliamentary committee investigating extremism, they said Muslims were being 'stigmatised' by Government initiatives to tackle terrorism which encouraged 'hatred' between communities.



They warned that these initiatives - part of the Prevent programme which is designed to prevent radicalisation amongst Muslim groups - could not 'continue unchecked'.



In a submission to the Commons Communities and Local Government Committee, posted on the committee's website, they wrote: 'It can be argued that there is a connection in the rise of Islamophobia and our Prevent programme as it feeds on the stereotypes that the media and some right wing parties promote, i.e. all Muslims are evil and non trustworthy.



'Our British system is a model for the world to follow, yet we have embarked on a journey that has put this very core of British values under real threat.



'The hatred towards Muslims has grown to a level that defies all logic and is an affront to British values.



'The climate is such that Muslims are subject to daily abuse in a manner that would be ridiculed by Britain, were this to occur anywhere else.



'We must not diminish our British values further by continuing to allow such behaviour and policies to continue unchecked.'



The association, which has more than 2,000 members, said there was a 'sense of frustration' among Muslims that their concerns were not being heard and warned that 'some serious damage' to relations between religious communities may have already occurred.



Concern: The failed Detroit bombing on Christmas Day was carried out by an al-Qaeda supporter who had studied in London



There have been growing concerns about the radicalisation of Muslims in Britain. The failed Detroit bombing on Christmas Day was carried out by an al-Qaeda supporter who had studied in London.



But Muslim officers believe the Government is wrong to blame Islam as the main 'driver' of terrorist activity.



Its official intervention over the Prevent initiative raises the possibility that Muslim officers may be reluctant to take part in 'hearts and minds' anti-terrorist campaigns in the future.



The news will come as an embarrassment to Gordon Brown who has backed the association in the past, describing it as crucial to bridge the historic divide between Muslims and the police.



Prevent - which aims to stop Muslims becoming radicalised through measures such as sponsoring moderate community groups - was welcomed by mainstream police organisations when it was first proposed.



Ministers hailed the scheme - which costs more than £140million a year - as a 'real success' after more than 200 people were convicted of terrorist offences in the past eight years.



But Muslim groups have condemned the initiative as an 'affront to British values' which breeds 'hatred against Muslims'.



It is thought to be the first time that the Muslim association, which was founded in 2007, has criticised government policy.



A spokesman from the Department of Communities and Local Government said: 'The idea that we only focus on Muslims on terror issues is completely false.



'Muslims, like other faith groups, engage with government departments right across Whitehall, from health to education to work and pensions, to culture, media and sport. They rightly play a full role in our society, and across public and civic life.'



