This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/15/police-chief-counter-terror-officer-islamic-schools-plot-birmingham

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police chief condemns appointment of terror officer over 'Islamic schools plot' Police chief condemns appointment of terror officer over 'Islamic schools plot'
(about 1 hour later)
The chief constable of West Midlands police has condemned as "desperately unfortunate" the appointment of an anti-terror officer to investigate allegations of Islamic fundamentalists infiltrating schools in Birmingham.The chief constable of West Midlands police has condemned as "desperately unfortunate" the appointment of an anti-terror officer to investigate allegations of Islamic fundamentalists infiltrating schools in Birmingham.
Peter Clarke, who served as the head of the Metropolitan police's counter-terrorism unit, has been made an education commissioner by Michael Gove, the education secretary, the Department for Education (DfE) said on Monday.Peter Clarke, who served as the head of the Metropolitan police's counter-terrorism unit, has been made an education commissioner by Michael Gove, the education secretary, the Department for Education (DfE) said on Monday.
Clarke has been hired specially to review as yet unproven claims made in an unsigned letter which circulated in Birmingham and beyond, boasting of an Islamist plot named Operation Trojan Horse which it claimed had infiltrated state schools in the city and run them on "strict Islamic principles". Clarke has been hired to review claims in an unsigned letter, circulated in Birmingham and beyond, that boast of an Islamist plot named Operation Trojan Horse infiltrating state schools in the city and running them on "strict Islamic principles".
West Midlands police had already been investigating fraud claims linked to the Trojan Horse letter. West Midlands police were already investigating fraud claims linked to the Trojan Horse letter.
Responding to Clarke's appointment on Monday, the West Midlands police chief constable, Chris Sims, suggested Clarke's background could stir up racial tensions in the community. Responding to Clarke's appointment on Monday, Chris Sims, the West Midlands chief constable, suggested Clarke's background could stir up racial tensions in the community.
In a statement he said: "This is a desperately unfortunate appointment. Peter Clarke has many qualities but people will inevitably draw unwarranted conclusions from his former role as national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism. "This is a desperately unfortunate appointment," he said. "Peter Clarke has many qualities but people will inevitably draw unwarranted conclusions from his former role as national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism.
"I am a strong supporter of open and inclusive education for all children in Birmingham and across the West Midlands and am committed to the process adopted by Birmingham city council with educational and social inclusion at its heart.""I am a strong supporter of open and inclusive education for all children in Birmingham and across the West Midlands and am committed to the process adopted by Birmingham city council with educational and social inclusion at its heart."
The DfE said Clarke's role would be to conduct an investigation to fully understand the situation and work with Birmingham city council to "analyse evidence of extremist infiltration in both academies and council-run schools". The DfE said Clarke's role would be to conduct an investigation to fully understand the situation and to work with Birmingham city council to analyse evidence of extremist infiltration in academies and council-run schools.
It added that Clarke had substantial experience in leading high-level investigations and his appointment meant the allegations could be examined in a "professional and dispassionate manner".It added that Clarke had substantial experience in leading high-level investigations and his appointment meant the allegations could be examined in a "professional and dispassionate manner".
The move comes the day after it was disclosed that 25 schools are now under investigation over the alleged hardline Muslim plot to force out governors and headteachers. The move comes the day after it was disclosed that 25 schools are under investigation over the alleged hardline Muslim plot to force out governors and headteachers.
Birmingham council has already announced it is appointing a new chief adviser to directly handle at least 200 complaints received in relation to the Operation Trojan Horse allegations focusing on schools in the city. The council's investigation, running in parallel to the DfE's separate inquiry, is due to initially report back in May. Birmingham council has already announced it is appointing a chief adviser to directly handle at least 200 complaints received in relation to the Operation Trojan Horse allegations focusing on schools in the city. The council's investigation, running in parallel to the DfE's separate inquiry, is due to initially report back in May.
Gove said: "I am extremely concerned by the allegations made in connection to a number of schools in Birmingham.Gove said: "I am extremely concerned by the allegations made in connection to a number of schools in Birmingham.
"I have already asked Ofsted to inspect a number of schools of concern and these investigations are ongoing. But wider, more comprehensive action is needed. These allegations need either to be substantiated and firm action taken, or to be shown to be baseless. We cannot allow uncertainty for parents or pupils to persist."I have already asked Ofsted to inspect a number of schools of concern and these investigations are ongoing. But wider, more comprehensive action is needed. These allegations need either to be substantiated and firm action taken, or to be shown to be baseless. We cannot allow uncertainty for parents or pupils to persist.
"That is why I am appointing a commissioner to oversee this work. Peter Clarke brings a wealth of relevant skills and experience, and is very well placed to lead a fair and thorough assessment of the evidence, and report back to me. We expect he will work closely with Birmingham city council."That is why I am appointing a commissioner to oversee this work. Peter Clarke brings a wealth of relevant skills and experience, and is very well placed to lead a fair and thorough assessment of the evidence, and report back to me. We expect he will work closely with Birmingham city council.
"No pupils should be exposed to extremist views or radicalisation while at school. I have tasked Peter Clarke with getting to the bottom of these allegations, so schools in Birmingham can continue the excellent progress that so many have been making.""No pupils should be exposed to extremist views or radicalisation while at school. I have tasked Peter Clarke with getting to the bottom of these allegations, so schools in Birmingham can continue the excellent progress that so many have been making."
Responding later to Sims' criticism, a DfE spokesman said: "We are confident that Peter Clarke's background makes him exactly the right appointment for this important job. He has long experience of leading sensitive investigations, and has earned a reputation for thoroughness, integrity and independence. He has worked for many years with diverse communities and in collaboration with a wide range of partners.
"The secretary of state believes that Mr Clarke's track record, drive and professionalism will mean parents in Birmingham can be confident that the truth of what has happened will be uncovered."
Clarke is due to report back with his findings in the summer. His remit will cover both local council-run schools and academies.Clarke is due to report back with his findings in the summer. His remit will cover both local council-run schools and academies.
Birmingham city council has appointed Ian Kershaw, managing director of Northern Education, to take up the chief adviser role, and is also setting up a review group of MPs, councillors, national teaching and governors' groups, the police and faith leaders to look into the claims.Birmingham city council has appointed Ian Kershaw, managing director of Northern Education, to take up the chief adviser role, and is also setting up a review group of MPs, councillors, national teaching and governors' groups, the police and faith leaders to look into the claims.
On Monday, the council leader Sir Albert Bore confirmed the council had spoken to the local authorities in both Manchester and Bradford, where similar allegations have been raised, during its three-month-long investigation. Sir Albert Bore, the council leader, confirmed on Monday that the council had spoken to local authorities in Manchester and Bradford, where similar allegations have been raised, during its three-month investigation.
Ofsted has also been sent in by Gove to inspect 15 Birmingham schools in recent weeks, after the allegations first broke. Gove has also instructed Ofsted to inspect 15 Birmingham schools since the allegations surfaced.
Concerns over how some of the city's 430 schools were being run first emerged when an anonymous letter known as Operation Trojan Horse was leaked, claiming a small but radical group of Muslims were pursuing their own agenda in the classrooms, with unco-operative headteachers and governors forced out. Concern at how some of the city's 430 schools were being run emerged when an anonymous letter known as Operation Trojan Horse was leaked, claiming a small but radical group of Muslims were pursuing their own agenda in the classrooms, with unco-operative headteachers and governors forced out.
The unsigned and undated document also claimed to have caused "a great amount of organised disruption" in the city, crediting the plan with forcing a change of leadership at four schools. The unsigned and undated document also claimed there had been "a great amount of organised disruption", crediting the plan with forcing a change of leadership at four schools.
Since the letter came to light, anonymous whistleblowers have claimed that boys and girls have been segregated in classrooms and assemblies, sex education has been banned, non-Muslim staff have been bullied, and in one case that the teachings of a firebrand al-Qaida-linked Muslim preacher were praised to pupils. Since the letter came to light, anonymous whistleblowers have claimed that boys and girls have been segregated in classrooms and assemblies, sex education has been banned, non-Muslim staff have been bullied and, in one case, that the teachings of a firebrand al-Qaida-linked Muslim preacher were praised to pupils.
Bore said the council was in dialogue with the DfE, and confirmed that Ofsted would not publish its inspection reports until after Easter.Bore said the council was in dialogue with the DfE, and confirmed that Ofsted would not publish its inspection reports until after Easter.
West Midlands police is also still looking into the authorship of the document, the council's leader said. West Midlands police was also still looking into the authorship of the document, the council's leader said.
The allegations detailed in the Trojan Horse letter focus on the Park View Educational Trust, which runs three schools in the city, all of which have been subjected to snap Ofsted inspections in recent weeks. The allegations in the Trojan Horse letter focus on the Park View Educational Trust, which runs three schools in the city, all of which have had snap Ofsted inspections in recent weeks.
The school trustees have firmly denied all the claims, branding the allegations a witch-hunt, while pointing to very good academic results among its pupils.The school trustees have firmly denied all the claims, branding the allegations a witch-hunt, while pointing to very good academic results among its pupils.