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Inquiry into embassy police row | Inquiry into embassy police row |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair has ordered an inquiry after a Muslim constable was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in London. | Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair has ordered an inquiry after a Muslim constable was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in London. |
Sir Ian says he wants an "urgent review of the situation and a full report". | Sir Ian says he wants an "urgent review of the situation and a full report". |
The Sun newspaper said the officer was reassigned on "moral grounds" as he objected to Israeli actions in Lebanon. | The Sun newspaper said the officer was reassigned on "moral grounds" as he objected to Israeli actions in Lebanon. |
But the Association of Muslim Police Officers said it was a "welfare issue" - the officer had Middle Eastern relatives and felt unsafe in that role. | But the Association of Muslim Police Officers said it was a "welfare issue" - the officer had Middle Eastern relatives and felt unsafe in that role. |
The officer, who has been named as Pc Alexander Omar Basha, is attached to the Scotland Yard's Diplomatic Protection Group. | The officer, who has been named as Pc Alexander Omar Basha, is attached to the Scotland Yard's Diplomatic Protection Group. |
The particular officer has brought an issue forward. His wife is Lebanese and his father is from Syria Association of Muslim Police Officers | The particular officer has brought an issue forward. His wife is Lebanese and his father is from Syria Association of Muslim Police Officers |
He has a Syrian father and a Lebanese wife. | He has a Syrian father and a Lebanese wife. |
During the summer, when Israel was involved in a month-long conflict with Lebanese militants, Pc Basha asked to be moved from the Israeli embassy because he felt uncomfortable and unsafe. | During the summer, when Israel was involved in a month-long conflict with Lebanese militants, Pc Basha asked to be moved from the Israeli embassy because he felt uncomfortable and unsafe. |
Now the conflict is over, the Association of Muslim Police Officers - which is speaking on his behalf - said Pc Basha had asked to be excused from his duties because he felt "uncomfortable and unsafe". | Now the conflict is over, the Association of Muslim Police Officers - which is speaking on his behalf - said Pc Basha had asked to be excused from his duties because he felt "uncomfortable and unsafe". |
HAVE YOUR SAY The police cannot ever let their personal feelings interfere with their work Miki, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The police cannot ever let their personal feelings interfere with their work Miki, London Send us your comments |
Superintendent Dal Babu, from the association, told BBC News the officer's reassignment had nothing to do with politics but was an "issue around the welfare of a particular officer". | Superintendent Dal Babu, from the association, told BBC News the officer's reassignment had nothing to do with politics but was an "issue around the welfare of a particular officer". |
"The particular officer has brought an issue forward. His wife is Lebanese and his father is from Syria. | "The particular officer has brought an issue forward. His wife is Lebanese and his father is from Syria. |
"He brought this issue up at the start of August and has expressed a desire to be posted elsewhere whilst the war was going on." | "He brought this issue up at the start of August and has expressed a desire to be posted elsewhere whilst the war was going on." |
Oath of allegiance | Oath of allegiance |
Supt Babu said Pc Basha was now back on diplomatic protection group duties and that "if an incident happens at the Israeli embassy he will deal with it". | Supt Babu said Pc Basha was now back on diplomatic protection group duties and that "if an incident happens at the Israeli embassy he will deal with it". |
Supt Babu accepted that excusing officers from assignments because of moral beliefs would be unacceptable. | Supt Babu accepted that excusing officers from assignments because of moral beliefs would be unacceptable. |
"I think that we're going down a very, very slippery slope if we then start having postings based on individual officers' conscience," he said. | "I think that we're going down a very, very slippery slope if we then start having postings based on individual officers' conscience," he said. |
"As police officers we have to deal with some very difficult situations and we need to be objective and make sure that we police all members of the community fairly. | "As police officers we have to deal with some very difficult situations and we need to be objective and make sure that we police all members of the community fairly. |
If officers have political, religious, ideological or moral views about things then they've got to put their duties above that because their service is to the public Lord Mackenzie | If officers have political, religious, ideological or moral views about things then they've got to put their duties above that because their service is to the public Lord Mackenzie |
"We can't pick and choose." | |
Lord Mackenzie, former president of the Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, said the move sounded like "a step too far". | Lord Mackenzie, former president of the Superintendents' Association of England and Wales, said the move sounded like "a step too far". |
"There are cases where clearly you can grant compassionate leave in certain circumstances," he said. | "There are cases where clearly you can grant compassionate leave in certain circumstances," he said. |
"But if officers have political, religious, ideological or moral views about things then they've got to put their duties above that because their service is to the public. | "But if officers have political, religious, ideological or moral views about things then they've got to put their duties above that because their service is to the public. |
"What we don't want is a situation where one particular section of the community is given special reasons for not performing duties because that will simply alienate the rest." | "What we don't want is a situation where one particular section of the community is given special reasons for not performing duties because that will simply alienate the rest." |
The embassy of Israel expresses its full confidence in the devotion, professionalism and ability of the Metropolitan Police force to provide the embassy with maximum security Israeli embassy | |
A Scotland Yard spokesman said it would sometimes consider a special request to be moved on moral grounds - but added it reserved the right to post an officer anywhere. | A Scotland Yard spokesman said it would sometimes consider a special request to be moved on moral grounds - but added it reserved the right to post an officer anywhere. |
The Metropolitan Police Authority, which oversees the force's work, pointed out that police officers took an oath of allegiance. | The Metropolitan Police Authority, which oversees the force's work, pointed out that police officers took an oath of allegiance. |
The authority, which has also asked for a report, said officers often had to undertake duties where the subject conflicted with their personal beliefs. | The authority, which has also asked for a report, said officers often had to undertake duties where the subject conflicted with their personal beliefs. |
The Israeli embassy in London, meanwhile, said it was confident the Met Police would find "a satisfactory solution to this particular problem". | |
"The embassy of Israel expresses its full confidence in the devotion, professionalism and ability of the Metropolitan Police force to provide the embassy with maximum security," it said in a statement. |