Police criticised over North West terror raids
1:06pm Tuesday 24th November 2009 in
MUSLIMS in Clitheroe say questions remain unanswered after a report into anti-terror raids in the town was published.
Farooq Hussain, a co-ordinator at Clitheroe’s Masjid Mosque, reacted to today’s report by Lord Carlile, which was critical of Greater Manchester Police’s lack of consultation with prosecutors ahead of the April operation.
GMP made 12 arrests across the northwest on April 8 this year under the Terrorism Act, including two security guards working at Clitheroe Homebase store, who are Pakistani nationals.
However, no criminal charges resulted from the operation and Lord Carlile, the government’s independent reviewer of terror legislation, said police should have discussed their plans with prosecutors earlier.
Mr Hussain said: “Had there been any convictions, or even charges, the operation would have been far more palatable.
“They have been deported, so there are obviously concerns about the presence of these individuals, so why were charges not made? There are lots of questions not answered.
“As someone who lives in the town, it is reassuring the police acted swiftly.
"But equally, how serious a threat was it?” And he raised concerns about community relations.
The two guards had been staying at the Brooklyn Guest House, Pimlico Road, Clitheroe.
The men were suspected of having links to al Qaida amid claims of an Easter bomb plot.
In the report, Lord Carlile said it was possible fewer men would have been arrested if discussions had taken place earlier.
He said: “It was unwise of the police in this case not to actively seek legal advice from the CPS during the process of planning the arrests.”
Lord Carlile said while the arrests ‘lacked visual subtlety’, the GMP were ‘probably right’ to take no chances.
GMP Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said the report supported its ‘compelling case’ for the arrests, adding that the investigation was still live.
Comments(20)
etrib
says...
1:51pm Tue 24 Nov 09
RK wrote:Would you care to qualify your final sentence?
The thing that concerns me about this case was that the photographer didn't take his photos direct to the police when he knew what they were. But, for the sake of arguments, the police did not do what they did at the time that they did it and some terrorist activity had occured a lot of people would have been calling for their heads. I think that if the raids had been against eastern europeans instead of Asians then there wouldn't have been this much bother. And as for the CPS, well they're a complete waste of time.
RK
says...
2:01pm Tue 24 Nov 09
Jimmy Paterson
says...
2:36pm Tue 24 Nov 09
At least some of the illegals were deported so some good did come of it.
akon
says...
2:41pm Tue 24 Nov 09
Keep up the good work !! (whilst being dictated to by your limp-wristed ,politically motivated, bosses)
Your job is hard enough without the politic's!!
justicejoan
says...
3:20pm Tue 24 Nov 09
I remember many people questioning at the time the "quality" of the intelligence as many raids had been conducted with very few charges being brought.
AS for the police they have my admiration. However in view of the many undesirable individuals posting on here one has to ask whether the police are monitoring those who espouse racial and religious hatred with respect to the Discrimination Act 2007 and whether charges need to be brought against them.
Time to put these people up before the judges and magistrates.
akon
says...
3:42pm Tue 24 Nov 09
Do you mean Liebour's "thought police" ?
Also are you going to report yourself for your anti-british ,anti-white comment's?
justicejoan
says...
4:02pm Tue 24 Nov 09
As for your last comment it is a clear indication of your hidden agenda against minorities. You really need to find something productive to exert your energies on as this tirade will eventually lead you to come before us on the bench.
Press Photographer
says...
5:17pm Tue 24 Nov 09
The photographer captured a photo that turned out to be very ,very news worthy and no doubt made said photographer a wage for the day,(no wages in going to the Police)
As a result ministers now arriving for meeting,have been told to avoid photograpers..easier to carry top secret documents in a carry case,i say.....
ExForces
says...
5:44pm Tue 24 Nov 09
Its very easy to judge when somebody gets something ''wrong'' but I'm glad they acted in the swift manner they did.
Britain needs to be shown as not being the 'soft touch' people think it is.
Unfortunately we have alot of armchair critics that love to slate people trying to make a difference.
RK
says...
5:44pm Tue 24 Nov 09
Akki
says...
6:05pm Tue 24 Nov 09
It would be all good and well if they targetted real criminals like young louts who create the real terror by causing anti-social behaviour.
Familiar story up and down the Country.
Good to see the follow up article from LET.
Press Photographer
says...
6:04am Wed 25 Nov 09
RK wrote:
Never mind that people's lives may be at risk, take the money! Pathetic.
What about the lives of inocent people that are lost/put at risk,through acts of terrorism,
I can't recall the last time a press photographer armed with a camera blew a bus, a tube train,ohh and two tall buildings in the U.S into so many bits...
"Take the money!" its called a wage,bringing home the bacon,bread on the table,providing for a family,and you tag this as PATHETIC...
RK
says...
7:50am Wed 25 Nov 09
akon
says...
8:01am Wed 25 Nov 09
Go & read your "english" version of the koran.
It's not bullying silly girl ,it's simply replying to scum & quisling's like yourself.
akon
says...
8:08am Wed 25 Nov 09
Go & read your "english" version of the koran.
It's not bullying silly girl ,it's quite simply replying to scum & quisling's like yourself.
Press Photographer
says...
2:43pm Wed 25 Nov 09
RK wrote:I have been known to chase the rich and famous around,and before you tag,this sentance,i'll point out most of that work was within the North West,and most of the celebs i got to know,they would call me and let me know where they were and with whom..cos they wanted to keep their profile alive in the papers . so i worked with them... unlike the London Paps...who are animals
Yes, actually I do. Answer me this, what if somebody had died because of that idiot? And before you answer I class the person who had the documents for all to see as criminally stupid too. I honestly can't see your point, in the first sentence you go on about people being killed by terrorists and then you ramble on about it being a job to feed people's mouths. If you really want to do some decent photography why don't you go to one of the war zones or are you one of those pathetic creeps who follows 'celebs' around?
I have done war photography,and that is pure Reportage,and i loved it,not to impressed by the carnage i witnessed,but that was the nature of the work. at that time..(being around for my family stops me from trotting off to anymore war zones)
Hey,RK tell me when you see a story in your chosen paper about a celeb,upto no good,images splashed over the page,along with a juicy story,do you turn the page and refuse to read it ,,then write to the editor,telling him what a creep he and his staff are.. ..i guess not
RK
says...
3:07pm Wed 25 Nov 09
Press Photographer
says...
5:40pm Wed 25 Nov 09
Different points of view makes for an intresting world,if we all sang from the same music sheet boy it would be a boring world..the art is to listen to differing views....
Before i answer your question,id like to point out,--most press photographers,Editor
s and reporters are members of unions,(like the N.U.J to mention one) and their are guide lines for members to follow, ,and in short most do follow....
As an on the ground photographer it's my job to capture the news,how ever it unfolds before me..i click away,as a work freelance ,i send then images to a news agency,and they forward on my behalf to the paper(s) picture editor,...it's the pic editors decision weather to put a picture into print,taking into account all the pros and cons of doing so..it's not the photographers decision..sounds like a cop out thats how it works...had i been the photographer,i would have forwarded out the image...
Number 10 would have been informed /tipped about the image that was going to be in print the next day..give them time to prepare a statement,,,you scratch my back.
if i had an image and i knew 100%
that as a result of publication it would lead to the death of a person,the image would be embargoed...
I can not say as to which war area i was in..due to the red tape still..but i did take away many memories,some fond,and not so fond,,i saw things most people wouldn't see in a life time,and i wouldn't want them to see in a life time....other things ,opened my eyes into what another human being would do for another...
RK
says...
6:19pm Wed 25 Nov 09
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RK says...
1:45pm Tue 24 Nov 09
I think that if the raids had been against eastern europeans instead of Asians then there wouldn't have been this much bother. And as for the CPS, well they're a complete waste of time.