Information Guide for Communities in dealing with Anti-Terrorism

INFORMATION GUIDE FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN

DEALING WITH ANTI-TERRORISM RAIDS/ARRESTS

BY IFATH NAWAZ & SHAUKAT WARRAICH

The objective of this Guide is:

• To make Muslim communities aware of the Government’s

strategy on anti-terrorism and the possible actions that can flow

• To explain and provide an understanding of what is meant by an

“anti-terror raid”, the reasons behind such action and the

impact of such action;

• To set out the practical and physical impact of such raids

• To set out the issues that will need to be dealt with

• To set out advice and guidance on how best to deal with various

agencies

• To set out what happens to the individuals arrested and possible

effects on the families of those involved

• Advice upon future planning after the events

ENGAGE ENGAGE ENGAGE

INFORMATION GUIDE FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN DEALING WITH ANTI-TERRORISM RAIDS / ARRESTS 2

CONTENTS

Contents page

About the Authors 4

Introduction 6

An “Anti-terror raid” 9

UK Government Counter Terrorism Strategy

What can happen?

Why is it happening?

Response of the Muslim Community 13

Leadership

Helping the community

Dealing with the Police

Dealing with the Media

Dealing with Other Agencies

Reporting

Moving On and Looking to the Future 32

Appendices 36

Appendices A Template for Press statement

Appendices B Anti-Terror Raid - 5 Day Timeline

Appendices C Wycombe Muslims Advisors action Plan for

Community Cohesion

Append ice D Useful Contacts Details

Append ice E Anti-terror hotline


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ifath Nawaz is a solicitor by profession with over 15 years post

qualification experience as a local government lawyer and has

worked both voluntarily and as a consultant with multi agencies

providing the Muslim perspective on human rights, immigration,

women and diversity issues.

As one of the founding member of the Association of Muslim

Lawyers (UK) in 1993, she has played a key role in the direction the

organisation has taken in highlighting issues of relevance to

Muslims in the UK and abroad. As Chairwoman of the Association

since 2003, she has represented the Association working with multi

agencies on human rights, anti-terrorism laws and impact on ethnic

minorities.

She was on the Government’s Muslim Taskforce set up on

Preventing Extremism Together in August 2006 and was Deputy

Convenor on the Working Group on National Security, Policing and

Islamophobia. She is a member of the Independent Advisory Group

to the London Criminal Justice Board and Co- Chair of the

Independent Asylum Commission set up in November 2006.

She was also one of the Contact Group members following the anti-

terror raids in High Wycombe in August 2006 and spent a

considerable time working with the agencies and the community in

dealing with the issues that arose.

For further information please contact her on

[email protected]


Shaukat Warraich is a Director at Right Start Foundation

International, (based at its head quarters in Birmingham West

Midlands UK) and a Senior Partner at Faith Associates, a consultancy

developing strategy and policy around faith based communities. He

has 20 years experience of working with Muslim youth from mainly

Pakistani and Arab backgrounds. He is currently the Head teacher of

a supplementary school tackling educational underachievement

amongst the Ethnic minorities in Berkshire, Slough. He has a BSc in

Science from Kings College, University of London and is completing

his MBA from Oxford Brooks University.

For the last 6 years he has been involved in various community

cohesion initiatives working with local and national agencies in the

UK to address the needs of emerging communities. He was on the

Government’s Muslim Taskforce set up on Preventing Extremism

Together and was member of the Mosques and Imams working

group.

He was also one of the Contact Group members following the anti-

terror raids in High Wycombe in August 2006 and is currently

working with Wycombe council’s local strategic partnership on

issues related to community cohesion.

He has lectured throughout Britain on matters related to strategic

management, human development and issues relating to Islam and

future challenges and opportunities for minorities.

For further information please contact him on

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]

GUIDE FOR MUSLIM COMMUNITIES IN DEALING WITH ANTI-TERRORISM RAIDS

Introduction

Since 2001, following the terrorist events of

9/11 in the USA and 7/7 in the UK, the British

Government has brought in the Anti-

Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and

the Terrorism Act 2006, which collectively,

with the Terrorism Act 2000, have given

extensive powers to the law enforcement

agencies in dealing with the threat of

terrorism.

This Guide is limited to the consideration of the use of some of those

powers by the law enforcement agencies resulting in anti-terror

operations and other related action. The guide is intended to be a

practical source and concentrates on the practical consequences of

such action and how members of the Muslim communities need to

deal with these.

There are a number of possible consequences of police raids on a

locality which can result in one or a combination of:

• the arresting of individuals

• house searches

• vehicles belonging to those arrested seized for searching

• other local premises being searched

• seizure of assets

• freezing of bank accounts and other financial sources

• questioning of number of individuals

• cordoning off sections of roads and areas in locality


Such action can and does have an

impact on the local community, on the

local agencies and most fundamentally

on the local Muslim community which`

finds itself under the world media

spotlight. This impact can be quite

overwhelming on the Muslim

community which often finds itself

under the public eye and scrutiny, its

mosques and Islamic centres suddenly

on the front pages of national and

international media together with the

emotional and well being issues of the

Muslims community at large.

Until now there has been little known support or guidance for

Muslims as to what to do when such events take place in their

locality The experiences of communities thus affected to date, has

revealed, not surprisingly, huge inexperience and difficulties in

dealing with the media attention, the demand of agencies to identify

and cope with the extremists elements within it and the demands of

the community itself upon its leaders to guide it out of the crisis in

the most constructive way possible.

This Guide has been put together based on the recognition of the

critical need for such a guide and on the experiences of the authors.

The impact of such events is often underestimated and can lead to

communities falling out within themselves due to the huge pressure

that surrounds the community and also within the wider community.


It is hoped that this Guide will help Muslims who find themselves

caught up in such action by law enforcement agencies, to organise

themselves, to be aware of the issues that will arise, some

suggested actions and more generally an information pack to assist

in what is inevitably a very difficult time.

Ifath Nawaz and Shaukat Warraich

February 2007


AN “ANTI TERROR RAID”

An Anti- Terror raid can be defined as

action taken by the police and

intelligence services, upon receipt of

intelligence, resulting in arrests and

searches of premises and property

against individuals/organisations

suspected of directly or indirectly

encouraging the commission,

preparation, or instigation of acts of

terrorism or to disseminate terrorist

publications. This can include

statements or publications that glorify

terrorism.

The powers given to law enforcement agencies range from making

arrests and holding individuals detention for up to 28 days, search

warrants for residential and other properties, freezing and seizure

of assets and bank accounts of those concerned through to wider

powers such as control orders, deportation, financial controls and

proscription of terrorist organisations as perceived by the Home

Secretary.

From Anti-terror raids seen to date, these usually involve the police

arresting individuals believed to be part of a group either at their

homes or other locations where the individuals may be at the

relevant times. Simultaneously there will be raids of the residential

properties of the individuals concerned with police taking over the

said properties and access denied to everyone else, further raids

may take place in locations/businesses frequented by the said

individuals with certain equipment being seized and taken away for


forensic purposes. This can result in areas being cordoned off to the

general public.

UK Governments Counter-Terrorism Strategy July 2006

In this Government document, the Home Office sets out its overall

strategy in countering terrorism and in order to understand the

actions taken leading to anti-terrorist raids, it is important to

understand the Government’s stance and reasoning for pursuing

such action. . Below we set out key points which the reader should

understand for themselves in order to deal with situations resulting

from anti-terror raids.

Who is involved?

Developing and delivering the Government's counter-terrorism

strategy involves stakeholders from across government

departments, the emergency services, voluntary organisations, the

business sector and partners from across the world.

What is the strategy based on?

Since early 2003, the United Kingdom has had a long-term strategy

for countering international terrorism (known within Government as

CONTEST). Its aim is to reduce the risk from international terrorism,

so that people can go about their daily lives freely and with

confidence. The strategy is divided into four principal strands:

Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare.

Prevent


This strand is concerned with tackling the radicalisation of

individuals, both in the UK and elsewhere, which sustains the

international terrorist threat. The Government seeks to do this by:

• tackling disadvantage and

supporting reform by

addressing structural problems

in the UK and overseas that

may contribute to

radicalisation, such as

inequalities and discrimination

• deterring those who facilitate terrorism and those who

encourage others to become terrorists by changing the

environment in which the extremists and those radicalising

others can operate

• engaging in the battle of ideas by challenging the ideologies

that extremists believe can justify the use of violence,

primarily by helping Muslims who wish to dispute these ideas

to do so

Pursue

This strand is concerned with reducing the terrorist threat to the UK

and to UK interests overseas by disrupting terrorists and their

operations. It has a number of aspects:

• gathering intelligence and improving our ability to identify and

understand the terrorist threat

• disrupting terrorist activity and taking action to frustrate

terrorist attacks and to bring terrorists to justice through

prosecution and other means, including strengthening the

legal framework against terrorism


• international co-operation by working with partners and allies

overseas to strengthen our intelligence effort and achieve

disruption of terrorists outside the UK

Protect

This strand is concerned with reducing the vulnerability of the UK

and UK interests overseas to a terrorist attack. This covers a range

of issues including:

• strengthening border security, so that terrorists and those

who inspire them can be prevented from traveling here and

we can get better intelligence about suspects who travel,

including improving our identity management

• protecting key utilities by working with the private sector

• transport; reducing the risk and impact of attacks through

security and technological advances

• crowded places; protecting people going about their daily lives

Prepare

This strand is concerned with ensuring that the UK is as ready as it

can be for the consequences of a terrorist attack. The key elements

are:

• identifying the potential risks the UK faces from terrorism and

assessing their impact

• building the necessary capabilities to respond to attacks

• continually evaluating and testing our preparedness, including

through identifying lessons learnt from exercises and real-life

events


RESPONSE OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

STEP 1 LEADERSHIP

The need for leadership upon hearing that an Anti Terror raid has

taken place is critical to managing the various complex and diverse

needs of the locality. Both the needs of Muslim and Non Muslim

citizens of the locality in focus need to be paramount in the minds of

the individuals who will be chosen to represent the community.

It is critical, in order to deal with all the issues that will need to be

addressed, that members of the mosque(s) leadership, Muslim

Voluntary Groups, religious figures of respect, immediately call an

urgent meeting together with Muslim professionals from within the

community to put together an Emergency Plan to cope with the

situation.

Ideal candidates should include Professional men & women from the

following spheres of life;

• Media

• Social Services

• Law enforcement agencies

• Mosque management committees

• Islamic religious leaders

• Teachers

• Youth Workers


Immediately upon finding out about arrests/police raids in its area,

the Muslim community leaders need to be aware of possible

ramifications for which they need to prepare. These can vary but

will notably include:

i) The impact of the arrests on the family members of the

individuals arrested

ii) The impact of the arrests on the local Muslim community and

any potential backlash

iii) The concerns that will become apparent of the wider non-

Muslim community

iv) Issues arising within schools and colleges

v) Dealing with the Media and general communication strategy

vi) Liaising with the agencies such as the local Council, the

Police the Race Equality Council and any other relevant

stakeholders

Tip: 1

Mosque management committees should have an up to date

directory of names of professionals that they can call upon in

times of need. They don’t necessarily have to be Muslims or

individuals that come to your mosque regularly but need only to

be generally known to be sincere to the community and who are

able and willing to help in the time of crisis.

Tip: 2

Call the meeting with members of the community as soon as you

are contacted by the police or you hear about the events

unfolding in the news.


STEP 2 SELECTION OF A CONTACT GROUP

When the relevant individuals set out above meet, it will be

paramount to agree to the appointment of 3/4 individuals to

represent the mosques, imams and wider community.

This is extremely important as when the journalists and media

arrive, they will be seeking to interview as many people as possible,

but they shall also be looking for authoritative and informed voices

to present the views of the community, hence it is important that

there are a small number of representatives who have the relevant

experience in dealing with the media and other agencies and are

able to do so competently and comprehensively.

TIP

When selecting members of the Contact Group, it is important to

think of whom will these people be engaging with and what

impression you wish the wider world to have about your

community. Matters for consideration for selection would

include:

• Excellent Command of the English language

• Presentable in front of a camera

• Can use the internet and gather information from different

sources so as to be informed with the latest information

• Able to work as part of a team

• Is not a publicity seeker

• Approachable and can handle different types of people

with sensitivity and wisdom

• Can contribute in meetings and able to chair meetings

• Has a broad understanding of the issues affecting the

community they are likely to serve

• Generally of good reputation


STEP 3 PREPARATION AND ISSUE OF PRESS STATEMENT ON

BEHALF OF MOSQUES AND OR THE MUSLIM

COMMUNITY

It is important to demonstrate an

organised and structured response to

the events as they unfold. The issue

of a statement provides the immediate

response of the mosques and Muslim

community to the media and at the

end of the statement should set out

the names and contact telephone

numbers of the appointed Contact

Group members.

This then prevents the media hunting around for people to speak to

and also prevents self appointed individuals speaking on behalf of

mosques and the wider Muslim community.

This Statement should be issued within 2/3 hours of the raids taking

place.

See Annex A for a list of the possible issues the statement should

cover.

STEP 4 DEALING WITH THE MEDIA

The national and international media will descend on the location

where the raids take place almost immediately. They have an

objective to cover the news from various angels, hence they need

material to broadcast and the information regarding the anti-terror

raids will most probably fill most news bulletins for the next 7 days

at least and more if charges of the people arrested are made. It is


therefore advisable to engage with the media in an efficient and

constructive manner from the outset.

Think About

• How can you help the community that is under the national

and international media spotlight?

• How can you prevent any further damage to the community’s

reputation and can you build bridges with members of the

community that may feel vulnerable due to all the attention?

• Planning and preparation for the various angles that the

media may take on the issues and preparing responses.

• Consider the following examples:

Were the arrested persons known to the community?

Is there extremism in this area?

What impact will these raids have on the community?

How is the community responding to the raids?

Has the community got any problems?

Are local mosques actively working against extremism?

What is the history of Muslims in this locality?

• Think about the possible locations from where the media may

wish to conduct interviews, and, if appropriate, make prior

arrangements for access to:

Mosques

Community centres

Jumma Prayers are usually a time and place where

journalists will be very keen to film. This can be very

sensitive and could be a potential flash point unless

managed with care and sensitivity.

Homes of where raids took place

Local Schools

Churches


Dealing with question about the individuals arrested

Information as to the identities of

those individuals who may have been

arrested or been the reason for the

raids taking place within the locality

may or may not be known

immediately.

It is important that any engagement with the media does not give

any information about any persons until such information has been

provided by the police at their briefings, see below, and confirmed

by the police. Speculation and rumours should be avoided at all

times as it can be potentially harmful.

It is not uncommon for journalists to offer names that have been

unconfirmed and ask for comments, it is advisable to respond to say

that information regarding the individuals is yet to be provided by

the police and no comment is offered in that regard until such time.

It is further inadvisable, if and when names are confirmed, for the

Contact Group to engage in long interviews with journalists

regarding the said individuals. It is best that this is left to the

families of the individuals concerned unless the Contact Group

members feel that they have sufficient knowledge and authority to

make such representations.


There will be many questions about the individuals concerned and

the following are some examples for consideration:

• Name and age of individuals arrested

• Families details

• Which schools the individuals attended

• What were they like at the schools, did they display any signs

of ‘extremism’ then and since

• Details of visits abroad to Muslim countries

• Which religious groups or schools of thought the individuals

followed

• Interviews with peers, teachers and neighbours are likely

• Details of mosques and Islamic groups attended by the

individuals and their general lifestyle

Tip 1 Seek out the journalists yourselves. They are usually near the

homes that have been raided, and hand them the press release,

especially if you are a member of the appointed Contact Group.

This will help the journalists and also for you to get the message to

the right people.

Tip 2 If you are appointed as a Contact Group member, it is only

reasonable to assume that you now represent the whole

community, hence your demeanour and dress has to complement

the status. Ensure you have emails, mobile phone numbers,

address of web-blogs, press releases, personal statements of

families of those arrested, addresses of the home that have been

raided at hand to help you give accurate facts but also points of


Tip 3 If you have to talk to a journalist, ensure that you obtain their

name and the media agency they are reporting for, for your record

and for feeding back to the wider community.

Tip 4 Ensure you have a coordinated message between all the members

of the Contact Group. Giving interviews will be a team effort and

you may wish to divide the work over the forthcoming days. If one

member of the team is contacted and is unable to give an interview

s/he should forward the contact number of other contact group

members to the journalist

STEP 5 ENGAGING AND WORKING WITH THE POLICE

It is critical the Contact Group makes

contact with the most senior officer

responsible for the area where the

raids took place. The local

community office can be another

excellent initial contact for you to

establish a link into the police

service.

This contact needs to be made within a couple of hours of the raids

taking place. The quality of the relationship established with this

agency will determine the course of future community cohesion and


information flow too and from each party, hence the selection of the

interlocketors is critical for a productive and fruitful engagement.

Usually counter terrorism action is led by specialist police officers

brought in to the locality and therefore the local police will itself be

receiving updates on a regular basis from the executing agency (e.g.

Met Police or West Midland special anti terror unit) and will

therefore have limited information to pass onto you.

The first meeting with the police should provide the following

information:

• Number of individuals arrested, names and where they have

been taken for questioning

• Number of properties being searched

• Areas under police occupation and out of public access i.e.

cordoned off areas

• Brief outline of intelligence leading to raids

• Information as to families of those arrested and their

immediate situation

• Information of any seizure of assets and accounts

• Immediate plan for dealing with impact of raids

• Information of any further arrests/raids expected

• Setting up of a Briefing Group comprising police, local

authority officers, Race Equality Council representatives and

community representatives

• Local police and link with Metropolitan Police who will be

responsible for the raids and all action associated with it

• Planned press conferences


Having received this information it is important for the Contact

Group to ensure that there is a regular update of information

provided to the mosques and community leaders to ensure all are

kept informed and up to date.

Ensure you secure representation on the Police Briefing Group as

this is a vital communication link for all stakeholders and that you

receive invitations to all meetings of this Group and that at least one

member of the Contact Group attends each meeting. See Below for

further details.

TIPS

TIP 1

The Police will expect you to provide information as to concerns

and issues within the community that they need to be informed

about and what the expected response should be. Make sure you

know of any incidents of Islamophobia or racist nature and take

details of such to the next Briefing. Further ensure you are

informed and prepared as to what action needs to be taken and by

whom, which may involve meetings within the community to have

a proper understanding of the issues.

TIP 2

Be a contributor to any public meetings organised in the localities

affected by the raids and ensure presence with the police at such

meetings, giving the community perspective.


TIP 3

Organise meetings where police can meet and discuss the situation

direct with Muslim women and youth in particular. The police can

provide good clear explanations as to the process and procedures

affecting those arrested, how members of the public should

respond to any incidents and generally establishing community

relationships. Example: in one locality the Muslim women felt

particularly vulnerable and cancelled Mother and Toddler groups

and being seen in public places. The Police Community Inspector

ensured plan clothes police presence to ensure that all regular

group events went ahead and that the impact of the raids was

minimal on normal community life and in addition visited local

schools and Muslim women group to give assurance and restore

confidence.

TIP 4

Organise police presence outside mosques for Jummah prayers and

for police spokesperson to address the congregation to allay

concerns and build links.

TIP 5

Contact Group should offer its assistance to view and even help to

draft any external communication that the police or any law

enforcement agency wishes to present to the local community. The

purpose of this initiative is to make sure the language and tone of

the communication does not inflame or misconstrue the situation

any further.


TIP 6

See Appendix C for 5 Day Timeline based on the High Wycombe

Example, which sets out events from the time the anti-terror raids

took place and the following five days together with the issues that

had to be dealt with and the events as they arose.

STEP 6 INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED AND THEIR FAMILIES ISSUES

Individuals Arrested

Contact needs to be established with the families of the individuals

affected to ensure that the individuals have good experienced

Lawyers representing them and contact can be made with the

Muslim Safety Forum or the Association of Muslim Lawyers or

Muslim Prisoners Support Group (for Contact Details see AppendixD)

The important matters to ensure are:

• Those arrested are given access to lawyers of their choice

immediately

• If access to lawyers is denied, then written reasons for this

should be obtained

• Contact arrangements for family should be sought although

this will be extremely difficult in the initial period

• Contact with the Muslim Prisoners Support Group is highly

advisable as they will be able to assist families through the

initial period which will be extremely challenging and can

provide counselling and support


Families of Individuals Arrested and Possible Implications for them

There is a very high probability that

family members of the persons

arrested will be just as shocked and

upset at the arrests/incidents as

everyone else, however the impact

for them will be more dramatic as

arrests of individuals usually impacts

in the following way on the direct

families:

• Loss of accommodation – the houses and homes are most likely

to be subject to a Police Search warrant and therefore members

of the family are denied any access to the house and their

belongings almost immediately the arrests take place. This is the

case if the arrests take place at home or outside the home.

• No access to clothes and basic human necessities

• Freezing of all bank accounts - therefore no access to any finance

• No transport - as experience has shown that family vehicles are

seized for search and forensic purposes

• Impact on any children within affected families – suspicion,

animosity, outcast issues as well as potentially emotional issues

for the children who are the most vulnerable ones in this


TIPS

TIP 1

The Metropolitan Police is required to have carried out a

Community Impact Assessment and the Contact Group and local

Police are able to ask for confirmation of this and to have access

to this.

TIP 2

Further, if arrests are made, an affected family can have a

Family Liaison Officer appointed, and the families affected

should be advised of this and offered this facility.

TIP 3

Recourse should also be made to your local Council and the

Community Section which should also be able to assist with

temporary housing and emergency finance to cope with the

crisis situation.

TIP 4

Imams may wish to establish contact with the families and

therefore police should be asked to convey this message and

provide all possible contacts.


STEP 7 DEALING WITH OTHER AGENCIES

1. Working With Agencies

Within hours of the arrests taking

place the Police, local Councils, Race

Equality Council and other relevant

stake holders/ bodies will have

formed a Briefing Group, it is

important to request participation

and representation in this Briefing

Group from the Contact Group.

The Briefing Group will cover issues such as:

• Daily updates of situation and provide you with names and

addresses of those arrested and where;

• Information as to the families affected and the manner in which

they are being dealt with and by whom and regular updates of

their situation, needs and issues;

• Information regarding investigation that will be ongoing,

although this will be limited due to national security reasons;

• Plans for informing and engaging with the communities directly

affected by the arrests;

• Damage limitation plans in terms of community relationship and

• Any racist or Islamophobic incidents reported in the locality

2. Role of Contact Group Members in Briefing

The role that local Muslims can play in this group is manifold and

includes:-


• Making agencies aware of the

impact upon the local Muslim

community in terms of fears,

attacks and wider concern

• Ensure that agencies record any

discriminatory incidents involving

Muslims as Islamophobic incidents

and not as racist incident, this is

hugely important

• Seeking information as to whether the Metropolitan Police

followed established protocols prior to raids being carried out

and whether an impact assessment had been carried out and

access to such information and whether local police were

involved

• Seek protection and police presence for mosques and Islamic

Centres during Friday prayers

• Seek any relevant information that would be helpful from

Lessons Learnt from anti- terror raids carried out around the

country

• Set up meetings with other faith groups to maintain dialogue and

link and understanding

• Set up meetings with Muslim youth and Muslim women to meet

with Police to be informed of the incidents directly and the

procedures involved, timescales involved and the overall pictures

( this has proved critical in restoring community confidence in the

agencies and the community working collectively)

• Organise visits to mosques by relevant stakeholders to engage

with Imams and Mosque management committees to ensure

relationship is established from the outset and information is


exchanged and confidence maintained e.g. visit by Strategic local

Partnership members can be critical in highlighting the issues

faced by the Muslim community at such a time to the Partnership.

This will also raise awareness and ensure support from all

relevant quarters and can prove critical in the post arrests period.

• Informing agencies of incidents occurring within community that

agencies may be unaware of e.g. study circles being cancelled

due to fear or issues within schools and colleges. This usually

results in the Police Community Officer in setting up measures to

deal with such issues to the satisfaction of all concerned.

3. Schools and educational institutions

Once news of the arrests/raids

spreads around the community,

there will be potential impacts in

most areas of community life. One

of the most critical issues that has

to be dealt with effectively is that

of possible impact upon schools

and colleges.

Many schools’ and colleges’ head teachers/Bursars will be

unprepared for the issues this will raise and shall be looking to

the Education authority and Muslims to assist and advise upon.

Measures that can be taken include:-

• Making the agencies aware of concern of possible backlash

against Muslim children and youth in schools and colleges and to

be proactive in dealing with this head on


• Working in partnership with relevant officers in Education

Authority to prepare Guidance Notes/Letters to Head teachers in

dealing with the situation

• Working in partnership with Education Authority in preparing

material for assemblies to deal with crisis e.g. advising that

dealing with Jihad is not the best way of explaining the current

crisis but calling upon the positive contribution towards society

by Muslims in the locality

• Muslim Professionals/Imams volunteering themselves through

production of a list of names and contact details to take

assemblies on Islam

• Experienced Muslims volunteering as contacts for head teachers

and staff to advise on issues arising NB this will require the

individuals to undergo a Criminal Bureau Records check to ensure

that it is safe for the said individuals to work with children and

youth and is necessary

• Referring educational authorities/schools to Muslim

Consultancies offering diversity training on Islam awareness etc,

see Appendix Three

• Organising coffee mornings in schools for parents to allow

dialogue and understanding and ensure such meetings are

attended by Muslim professional who are able to effectively talk

about the issues, listen to concerns of other parents and build

community relationships

Example – one of the issues quickly acknowledged by agencies is

their lack of understanding of the faith, of the need to engage

effectively with Muslim women and youth etc and any help that can

be given in this area is welcomed and can potentially be very

constructive.


TIP 1

Organise meetings with local people in various groups to

create opportunities for the community to hear and be heard.

TIP 2

Convey relevant messages back to the agencies at Briefing

Group Meetings and arrange for necessary action to be taken

as swiftly as possible.

TIP 3

Consider holding Mosque Open Days and provide

opportunities for questions and answers

TIP 4

Visit other place of worship and establish links with Priests,

Rabbis and other religious leaders to attend their gatherings

and provide spokespersons to represent and communicate

about the events and the impact on the community as a

whole.

TIP 5

Appoint representative to liaise with Education Authority and

arrange meeting with Muslim Parents Association or its

equivalent to discuss the issues and to provide proactive and

constructive solutions.

TIP 6

Organise coffee mornings in primary and high schools with

head teachers and other parents. Experience has shown that

to avoid division and misunderstanding, this has proved

extremely useful in allowing all members of the communities

to voice and understand different perspectives and

understanding.


STEP 8 MOVING ON AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Once the immediate impacts of the

anti-terror raids have subsided, the

real work begins and it is important

that the Muslim community

continues to play a strong role in the

work that is necessary. This will

vary from each locality and is

dependant on the existing work and

relationships built with the local

council and local agencies.

Below is the example of the Muslim Community in High Wycombe

following the anti terrors raids carried out in August 2006.

Once the immediate repercussions were dealt with, it was left to the

local community in all its guises, the local authorities, police, Race

Equality Council to deal with the impact of the raids.

There was a Core Briefing Group that had been set up following the

raids which comprised senior officers from the police, District and

County Council representing Councillors, Housing, Community

Development and Finance Officers together with the nominated

representatives from the Muslim Community.

The Core Briefing Group highlighted the issues that arose from the

raids and otherwise and these included:

1. The need for a common shared strategy on what Community

Cohesion meant for the area and each relevant stakeholder


2. The need for a Community Cohesion Strategy for the District

3. The need for a Community Cohesion Steering Group being set up

to oversee the delivery of the Community Cohesion Strategy

4. A Visioning Day was set up which highlighted issues such as:

• Need and real willingness to tackle the underlying causes of

radicalisation

• Real engagement to understand each others cultures, faiths

and backgrounds

• Agreement to start afresh with no assumptions and a real

desire to tackle the issues, with no areas being disallowed

• Need to effectively tackle the issues surrounding

underachievement in Education, social housing and

unemployment

• Need to effectively tackle lack of sufficient infrastructure for

youth in the District

• Empowerment of Muslim youth

• Empowerment of Muslim women

• Recognition and real action to deliver diversity training

throughout institutions to promote understanding of different

cultures and particularly of Islam and the local Muslim

community

• Measures that the Muslim community itself needed to take

forward

Members of the Muslim community continue to be engaged with the

agencies in carrying through the issues recognised at the Visioning

Day and in formulating the Community Cohesion Strategy. See

Appendix D for the Muslim Advisors Proposals for Community

Cohesion and development and progress of issues within the Muslim

community itself.


Issues and Events That Muslim Community itself Needs to Deal with

and Organise

• Need to organise clear representatives for agencies and others to

engage with as representatives of the community (this was an

issue throughout and is critical if the Muslim community is to

progress in this area)

• Mosques open days

• Engagement in interfaith dialogues with other faith leaders and

groups

• Reviewing current after school services to introduce homework

clubs in mosques

• Ensuring appropriate representation on local Police Independent

Advisory Group, Parents Associations in schools and Colleges and

representative Groups in community

• Introducing Mother and Daughter seminars

• Training for imams and mosques trustees and management

committees in public relations, engaging with the youth and role

of women etc.

• Seminars for Muslim community on Knowing their rights, Helping

Themselves, Being Involved Parents, Making a Difference in

Careers, Giving Back to the Community

• Being more active in local community

• Actively engaged in tackling extremism where necessary both

itself and working in partnership where necessary e.g. promotion

of anti-terrorism hotline in relevant locations


APPENDIX A PRESS STATEMENT

Each situation will vary on the facts pertinent to it, below the

authors have set out a list of factors that it is felt should be covered

in the first press release issued by community leaders.

1. Make clear on whose behalf the statement is being issued.

2. Set out the Islamic perspective on acts of violence which results

in damage or loss of lives of innocent civilians and property.

3. Set out the local Muslim immediate response to the events e.g.

shock, sadness etc.

4. Set out that investigation has just commenced and ask for

media and public to await the outcome of the investigation once

it has been completed and not to rush to conclusions.

5. Set out that individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a

court of law.

6. Ask for understanding and co-operation by the media in not

adopting language that will stereotype the rest of the Muslim

community and spread fear and misunderstanding in the wider

community.

7. Throughout your statement avoid the use of language such as

‘Islamic terrorists’, ‘Muslim terrorists’, ‘jihad’ etc but emphasise

that individuals have been arrested accused of criminal

activities and if found guilty will be sanctioned by the Criminal

Justice system of the country accordingly.

8. Set out the Muslim community’s support in action taken by the

police if justified and reasonable in the need of public safety.

9. Set out that have established contact with local police and

await, like everyone else, to receive information as to the


intelligence leading to the action taken by the police, however

limited that may be.

10. Set out any details for reporting any racial or Islamophobic

incidents and the telephone numbers.

11. Set out any immediate action being taken by mosques e.g.

public meeting and invite all members of the community to

attend i.e. Muslim and non-Muslim.

12. Set out names, mobile numbers and any other relevant

information of the members of the Contact Group.


APPENDIX B Anti-Terror Raid - 5 Day Timeline (High Wycombe

Example)

Time Activity

Day 1

Hours before

raid

Local Police Informed an Anti Terror Raid to take place by the

Metropolitan Police. Local constabulary told to

manage local policing and any potential fall out

Before Dawn Raids

7.00 Local & National Media made aware of local anti-terror raids

10.00 Local Police contact local Muslim civic and religious leaders

11.00 Muslim civic & religious leaders invited to be debriefed by

local Police

12.30 Local Muslim Leaders and professionals coordinate to arrange

their response and nominate media and agency contacts

Contact group (CG) nominated from this meeting.

Press release is prepared and agreed by participants of this

meeting.

14.00 Religious leaders make public announcements for calm at

mid day prayers

14.30 Press Release issued and circulated to all media contacts in

the local area

15.00 Local Police appoint central point of contact for community

representatives to consult.

15.30 Local Police inform Contact group and other civic and

religious leaders of another debrief meeting at 18.30

16.00 Media begins to approach Mosques for information and

statements

18.30 Local community invited to meet with senior police

representatives to air views and to seek answers.

20.00 Religious leaders and contact group discuss strategy for the

following day


Day 2

6.00 Contact Group start monitoring News

7.00 Radio telephone interviews held

9.00 Contact Group members asked to make statements on the

raids

10.00 Contact Group goes to homes raided to distribute Press

release

14.00 Contact Group meet Muslim religious leaders to debrief them

on current information

15.00 Local police contacts providing regular updates

16.00 Contact group arranges for local community groups to meet

to discuss issues, key focus on Youth and Women’s groups

18.00 Women’s groups contacted and information provided to them

to inform the police about any Islamaphobic incidents

20.00 Members of contact group debrief each other of days events

and plan for following day

21.00 Receiving regular information of any incidents or activities

from the police that may be of interest to the community

Day 3

10.00 Brief Police on Friday prayers and of the community

establishment like Mosques. Provide material and insight to

Police who wish to make statements in the Mosque

12.00 Television, radio and newspaper interviews undertaken

continually by Contact Group

13.00 Contact Groups divides responsibilities for dealing with media

and briefing community leaders. Offers support and

information to Imams on current situation, so a positive and

constructive message can be delivered to the community

during congregation pray.

14.00 Friday Prayers held with police representative addressing

congregation

15.00 Television, radio and newspaper interviews undertaken

continually by Contact Group


16.00 Press conference held with Contact Group members, Leader

of Council, Member of Cabinet on Community and Senior

Police Officers

18.00 Contact group meet community groups to debrief them and

get feedback on community feelings

Day 4

8.00 Contact Group answer emails and review media coverage

10.00 Contact Group members follow up call with local community

leaders to discuss concerns and seek guidance

12.00 Media interviews continuing

1.00 Contact Group members meet worshipers to discuss concerns

14.00 Community Meeting


18.00 Community Meeting

21.00 Meet members of the arrested family to discuss issues

Day 5

8.00 Contact Group answer emails and review media coverage

10.00 Contact Group members follow up call with local community

leaders to discuss concerns and seek guidance

11.00 Meeting with Local MP


14.00 Contact Group members meet worshipers to discuss concerns

18.00 Private meetings with affected families

21.00 Meet members of local mosques

22.00 Follow-up emails and telephones call from media and local

community representatives.


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APPENDIX C

WYCOMBE MUSLIMS ADVISORS’ ACTION PLAN FOR COMMUNITY COHESION

Cohesion Priority /

Need

Project description

Measurable outcomes

Short term up to 1 year

Mid term 1-3 years

Long term 3-5 years Cost Responsible

person

Wycombe One

(Community

Cohesion [cc] Agenda)

Communication strategy

Print Web Radio

Clear vision, style, values

and attributes that can be

easily expressed,

and demonstrated.

1-2 Months

LSP and relevant parties

+ Muslim Advisors

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Community Champion Award

Define criteria of what, who

and how someone can be come a champion.

Make sure we

take advantage of good things

which are happening in the town

6months


+ Muslim Advisors

Measuring CC

Setting CC measurable

indicators, set up and

defined by LSP and relevant bodies

6 Months


+ Muslim Advisors

Engagement of BME & Faith

communities in Consultation

Work with or encourage the emergence of consultative/liaison forums

12 Months


+ Muslim Advisors

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Launch Wycombe One

Diversity and Cultural

Awareness Training for Staff

and Members

To provide better

informed staff and

Members in delivering services to

the community

3 Months

Council & LSP + Muslim Advisors

Council with Consultants

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Introduction of Homework clubs to be taken into schools – Jubilee

Road used as pilot study

Better use of time for

children and at the same

time enabling homework supervision

and assistance.

This has been extremely

successful in Hamilton

school where the homework

clubs have targeted certain

families to provide the

relevant support to the

children.

3 Months

Mosques with appropriate

support from LEA

Education

Setting of targets for

attainment for 12 months and annual review

thereafter

Improve education

attainment of children thus

providing equality of

opportunity. Also will

impact on the future children embark upon, if investments are made into

this now.

3 Months

LEA in consultation with Muslim

community and Muslim Parents

Association

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LEA to launch programme for

teachers in facilitating discussions

about difference and conflict

To create environments that value and teach positive

ways of dealing with

difference and dissent

Implementation in next

academic year

LEA in consultation &

mediation organisations

An enhanced

citizen curriculum

Incorporate the Faith

element in citizenship via

the PHSE curriculum. Work with education

consultants and local

Mentors to develop

workshop approach in

local schools, especially

where high concentration

of Muslim pupils

√

LEA, SACRE and local

mentors/consultant

Islam Awareness Programme for officers/Staff in Education sector

Provide short awareness

workshops to teachers/Staff

of

6-12 Months LEA with Faith advisors/consul

tants

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The Radical Middle Way

Road Show to be brought to

Wycombe on set themes

Introducing the youth to scholars and leaders with whom they

can relate and who show the

path of the moderate way

and directs away from the

extremists agenda

Within 3 months and

then again in a further 3 months

Paid by FCO

(Free to Wycombe)

Council with Muslim Advisors

Youth Link workers

Males and Female

Working closely with

Mosques and Youth services

√

Match funding from youth

service and the Mosque

Youth services + Muslim Advisors

Young people & Women

Muslim Women’s local news letter

Monthly news letter, acting

as a voice and sign posting

service to local BME women

√

Women’s group, Muslim Advisors and

Council

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Diversionary activities

Muslim Youth groups,

empowered and capacity

building training given

to setup sporting and other social

based activities.

Campaigns from local sporting

facilities to encourage

engagements

Develop youth leaders who can develop sports and

cultural programmes.

Ask FA & ECB

to setup coaching

programmes

√ Provision from Youth sources

Youth service + Muslim Advisors

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Independent Needs analysis

of Young people

Independent survey of the needs of the youth with

specific attention paid to deprived

areas of Wycombe

6 months 30 day project ~ £600-800 a

day Consultants

Establishment of Muslim

Safety Forum on local basis

modelling successful

national model

Representatives who

engage with enforcement agencies on a regular basis to build good community

relationships and restore confidence within the agency.

Help put into action

contingency plan for when the trials of

the two boys arrested in

Wycombe take place.

Immediately through to 5

years.

Cost should be minimal as

work undertaken on voluntary basis,

expenses should be paid.

Muslim Advisors

together with Muslim Safety

Forum and Association of Muslim Police

Officers

Community safety and

policing

Islam Awareness Programme for officers/Staff of

Police

Provide short awareness

workshops to teachers/Staff

of

6-12 Months

Local/regional commanders with Muslim Consultants

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Push to recruit magistrates from

the BME communities

Set target to attain the numbers √

Recruitment of CPO’s from BME

communities

Recruitment seminars from

established community platforms

√

Local/regional commanders with Muslim

Advisors

Career’s Day focusing on

careers within public sector,

police and Fire Authority

This will open up such

institutions to the BME and make them more open

and transparent

and encourage

youngsters to actively

considers these as careers options

Within 9 months

Councils, BCC, Police and Fire Authority and

Muslim Advisors

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Hard to reach Communities engagement

plan

Measure effectiveness of local DAT’s

plans to engage

specific hard to reach

communities.

An independent survey of the effectiveness of local DAT Tier 1 plan and which

agencies are trying to reach

affected communities and report

back to LSP & DAT

6 months Independent Consultants

Drugs

Beacon Centre

To provide community

hub where all activities and services can be centrally

2 years

Muslim Community with Council and Local Strategic

Partnership

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be centrally located.

Provide base for community

and centre with which all agencies can

work and liaise.

Partnership

Provide outreach/ one-stop shops to increase local involvement in training and

labour market.

Establish links with

community/faith based centres

(Mosques) to facilitate units.

Council, Race Equality Council

and Muslim Advisors

Employment

Introduce measures to

deal with high unemployment rates amongst Muslims and

Muslim youths in particular

Encourage social entrepreneurship

and local solutions to the

problems of social exclusion

Employment workshops or recruitment days from established community centres or Mosques.

Application assessment

drop in centres setup

1-5 years Local Strategic Partnership and

Council

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Getting Women from the BME

communities into work or

developing entrepreneurship

The establishment of a capacity

building centre to help, foster

and direct women who

wish to develop

themselves or start an

enterprise

12-18month Council and

Muslim Advisors

Introduce careers day, mentoring schemes,

placements assistance

To break the cycle of

unemployment and to

introduce measures for members of

the community to

help themselves out of their situations

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Housing

Measures to be put into place

dealing with the housing crisis within Muslim

community with many elements

living below poverty line and

in extreme overcrowding

situations

Raise the standard of living and thereby

demonstrate a willingness

and ability to tackle the deprivation

effecting this community with short

term medium term and long

term plans

√ Council with

Muslim Advisors

Empowerment and capacity

building workshops

aimed at Muslim youth women organisations.

Mapping exercise

needed to identify target

areas to address

√ Consultants

with community understanding

Community and voluntary

services

Capacity building workshops for religious leader and faith based institutions to

help them engage better

with key stakeholders in the community

Map facilities and key

recipients for training and targets to be established.

√ Council with

Muslim Advisors

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Empowerment workshops

aimed at Muslim Mothers and Daughters

To address the issues

thrown up by the generation

gap and cultural cap

and the alienation felt by young girls.

Proposed issues could

be proceeding to Higher Education,

Healthy Lifestyle,

Active Citizens promotion,

Forced Marriages,

Drugs, Pregnancy etc

√ Consultants

with community understanding

APPENDIX D

Useful Contact Details

• Association of Muslim Lawyers

PO Box 148

High Wycombe

Bucks HP13 5EQ

www.aml.org.uk

• British Muslim Human Rights Centre

London Metropolitan University

London

• Faith Associates

(Strategic policy development, research & implementation

consultants)

Communication House

26 York Street

London

W1U 6PZ

www.faithassociates.co.uk

Tel: +44(0) 7802-407045

Fax: +44(0) 8701-126813

email: [email protected]

• Muslim Prisoners Support Group

PO Box 6001

London SW15 4XA

Tel: 020 8563 1995


http://www.aml.org.uk/


• Muslim Safety Forum

London Muslim Centre

Suite2, Business Wing

2nd Floor, 38-44 Whitechapel Road

London E1 1JX

Tel: 0207 375 1812 / 1811

[email protected] / http://www.muslimsafetyforum.com/

• Independent Police Complaints Commission

Switchboard: 08453 002 002 (8.30am - 5.30pm)

Complaint Call Centre: 08453 002 002 (press 1 at prompt) (9.00am

- 5.00pm)

Mincom: 020 7404 0431 Fax: 0161 969 5659 email:

[email protected]



http://www.muslimsafetyforum.com/


APPENDIX E

ANTI TERROR HOTLINE

This information should be displayed in mosques, Islamic Centres, youth

centres etc and actively promoted. This is not unique to Muslims but is being

undertaken by most institutions and faith groups in the interest of public

safety.

How the Public should respond to different National Threat Levels

Public vigilance is always important regardless of the current national threat

level, but it is especially important given the current national threat. Sharing

national threat levels with the general public keeps everyone informed and

explains the context for the various security measures (for example airport

security or bag searches) we may encounter as we go about our daily lives.

If you have information about possible terrorist activity, call:

The Anti-Terrorist Hotline: 0800 789 321.

The Anti-Terrorist Hotline is for tip offs and confidential information. For

warnings about possible bombs or other immediate threats please call 999.

_______________________________________________________________

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Documents

Information Guide for Communities in dealing with Anti-Terrorism