Police didn't take EDL threat seriously says National Association of Muslim Police Officers

Islamophobia Watch yesterday covered the progress on concerns expressed by the National Association of Muslim Police that Muslim police officers were being targeted by the English Defence League and that the reaction of Home Office officials and the Met Police to these concerns was inadequate.

From Islamophobia Watch:

“Last July the Independent on Sunday reported that the National Association of Muslim Police had delivered a letter to the home secretary, Theresa May, expressing their concerns about the targeting of their members by the English Defence League, and in particular about the case of an EDL member who had been arrested in 2010 in possession of explosive devices and a list of Muslim police officers’ names.

“As a result of an FOI request Richard Bartholomew has acquired a copy of the letter, which was evidently written by NAMP president Zaheer Ahmad, and he has published the relevant section:

““Last year the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) arrested a man who was actively gathering intelligence/information on serving Muslim Officers including myself and other senior NAMP executive members. According to MPS he was in possession of a quantity of fireworks/Devices, neither NAMP nor any of other persons targeted have or were ever made aware of the full extent of this enquiry e.g. explosives and other enquiries to date. The police also found partial addresses and surveillance videos on his computer, this would suggest that he was undertaking reconnaissance activities. At the time were told that the man arrested was a lone wolf and not linked to any organisations. It took us just a few minutes of basic internet research to establish that this individual has links with the EDL and has attended EDL rallies and meetings, which we brought to the attention of MPS. He was released with any bail conditions and no risk assessment was carried out. This individuals is still of concern to us and we are not aware whether he is still subject to any ongoing intelligence work by SO15 or whether he has been referred to the National Domestic Extremism Unit for intelligence purposes or de radicalisation programme.

“The investigation by Specialist Operations (SO) was very poor and dismissive of our concerns… It took the intervention of ACPO officers to inject a degree of seriousness into the investigation. However, sadly the investigation did not lead to charges being brought forward… MPS advised us that a file was sent to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and they have advised no further action be taken. Earlier this year we had the opportunity to meet senior officials from CPS, we were extremely upset and disheartened to learn that they have no recollection of giving MPS advice on this particular case.”

Islamophobia Watch includes the reply from the parliamentary under-secretary for crime and security, James Brokenshire MP who responded on behalf of the Home Office:

“The MPS is extremely disappointed with the inaccurate assertions made in Mr Ahmad’s letter, including issues around the quality and conduct of the investigation and the lack of referral to the CPS. However we do understand that the concerns raised by Mr Ahmad need to be addressed. A senior officer from the Counter Terrorism Command has already been in touch with him and a meeting has been arranged for September, during which we will address the allegations and hopefully provide him with the necessary assurances. “

As IW states, a likely explanation for the failure of the Metropolitan Police and CPS in dealing adequately with the concerns expressed by the NAMP is “the Met’s refusal to accept that the EDL is a violent extremist organisation.” The former Metropolitan Police Commissioner stated in 2009 that the EDL were “not viewed as an extreme right wing group in the accepted sense”, an opinion which has also been expressed by the co-coordinator of the National Domestic Extremism Unit at Scotland Yard, DCS Adrian Tudway. Claims that the EDL are not an extremist right wing group, or indeed that the group is not violent, don’t stand up to scrutiny when the statements of EDL leader, Stephen Lennon, and the conduct of its members (see here, here, here and here) are considered. The assessment also stands in contrast to the recommendations of the Home Affairs select committee report on the Roots of Violent Radicalisation, and Matthew Goodwin’s report, ‘From Voting to Violence’ both of which refer to the threat of violence and extremism posed by far right groups in the UK.