Israel Matzav

Let's hear it for some good cops - yes, including Muslim cops

As was widely reported in the blogosphere last night, a Muslim police officer in London was relieved of having to guard the Israeli embassy there on "moral grounds."

Today, the reaction came from the London police brass, and I am pleased to tell you that some of these people seem to have their heads on straight:

THE decision to excuse a Muslim cop from guarding the Israeli Embassy was last night branded “the beginning of the end for British policing”.

PC Alexander Omar Basha told chiefs he was unable to carry out duties at the London embassy — a top terror target — due to moral grounds after Israeli bombings in Lebanon.

Top brass granted his request last week, but Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair last night ordered an immediate inquiry after our story broke. He said: “Having learned of this issue I have asked for an urgent review of the situation and a full report.”

Critics slammed the decision. Ex-Met Flying Squad commander John O’Connor said: “This is the beginning of the end for British policing.

“If they can allow this, surely they’ll have to accept a Jewish officer not wanting to work at an Islamic national embassy? Will Catholic cops be let off working at Protestant churches? Where will it end?

“This decision is going to allow officers to act in a discriminating and racist way.”

Mr O’Connor added: “When you join the police, you do so to provide a service to the public. If you cannot perform those duties, you leave.

“The Metropolitan Police are setting a precedent they will come to bitterly regret. Top brass granted his wish as they were probably frightened of being accused of racism. But what they’ve done is an insult to the Jewish community.”

Another angry policeman said: “This decision beggars belief. It goes against everything the police should stand for — providing a service to the public no matter who they are.”

But here's the most amazing part of this story:

Superintendent Dal Babu, chairman of the Association of Muslim Police said he had spoken to the officer concerned.

He said: “What we need to do is just really put this entire issue in perspective. This is about the welfare of an individual and not about a moral issue.

"I think we are going down a very, very slippery road if we start having postings based on individual officers’ conscience.

“As police officers we have to deal with some very, very difficult situations and we need to be objective and make sure that we police all members of the community fairly. We can’t pick and choose.”

The proverbial 'moderate Muslim'? Let's hope so, because England is already awfully far down that slippery slope.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:48 PM