UK female police officers made to wear hijab to improve relations w/ Muslims

[CougarKing]

Note the underlined part of the first line though.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5920360/Police-force-gives-headscarves-to-female-officers-to-wear-with-Muslims.html

The force's female police officers and Police Community Support Officers are being given uniform-issue head coverings to be worn when they are on duty and entering places of worship.

There are two versions of the head coverings to match the black of a police officer's uniform and the blue of the Police Community Support Officer uniforms.

Both garments are embroidered with Avon and Somerset Constabulary emblem and are suitable to be worn by both uniformed and non-uniformed officers.

The head coverings were produced after the force worked with the Mosque Initiative and the Aklima Initiative.

They have already been issued to eight PCSOs and seven police officers, including Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Roberts.

Ms Roberts said: "Producing head coverings for our officers and staff to wear in places of worship is part of our commitment to engage with all our communities.

"It recognises and respects the cultural and religious practices of our communities.

"This is a very positive addition to the Avon and Somerset uniform and one which I'm sure will be a welcome item for many of our officers."

Rashad Azami, Imam and director of the Bath Islamic Society, said: "It is highly pleasing to see that the Avon and Somerset Constabulary is introducing specially designed head coverings for female officers as part of their police uniform.

"This will go a long way in encouraging a trustful relationship between the police and the Muslim community.

"The police have been working closely with the Muslim community in the area on many levels for the last few years.

"We have found their cooperation very helpful and hope this step will further strengthen the mutual relationship."

The head coverings have been issued to 15 officers who work closely with Muslim groups around Bristol and Somerset.

They cost £13 each and the force said they can also be used in other religious settings as a mark of respect, for instance to cover the shoulders of a non-uniformed officer in a church.

 

[Eye In The Sky]

Where will it stop?

 

[PMedMoe]

I personally don't see a problem with this.  They are only asked to wear it when on duty and entering a place of worship.  It is a sign of respect.  It could be an issue if it prevented them from doing something that may be required, such as donning a gas mask, for instance.

This is only a head covering, not a full face covering, yes?

 

[Roy Harding]

IFF the constables wear it ONLY when entering a place of worship - then I don't have a problem with it.

It seems similar to me to men donning a yarmulke when entering a Synagogue (although Synagogues usually supply them to their guests), or taking your hat off when entering a church, or your shoes off when entering other places of worship.  It's a show of respect for the customs of the people for whom that building is special.

I'd have a hard time with it if the constables were expected to wear it ALL the time while in uniform.  I've read the article a few times - and it appears to me that the scarves are only donned when entering the mosque.

Of course - whether Roy Harding has a "a problem with it" or not is, in all probability, of little consequence to the good citizens under the protection of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

 

[mariomike]

It is a sign of respect. 

I agree. As is wearing surgical "booties". 

 

[Snakedoc]

I think this is a well intentioned move.  However, I wonder since its only being issued to individuals dealing with the Muslim community regularly, will it be seen as the new standard resulting in other female officers without the standard issue head coverings then 'refused' entry to a mosque.

Also I wonder if all the other religious groups in other communities will also be asking that their particular practices be also followed...not that this would be a bad thing as long as it doesn't affect the officer's duties...but you can see where this gets tricky with so many groups.

 

[Jarnhamar]

I agree. As is wearing surgical "booties".

I remember having to put booties on to go into peoples houses and search. It usually gave them enough time to run out the back door with weapons into the woods where we weren't allowed to follow.

Seems like a fair idea. Where will it stop? Easy, it won't.

 

[Yrys]

The title made me jump !

Seems like a fair idea. Where will it stop? Easy, it won't.

I think you're right. But I hope we'll be prove wrong.

It seems to me that it would be easier to have  also
some at the mosque. Don't police officers have other
things to think about that to have them at all time in
the car  ?

Didn't saw anything about men or shoes... since I think
you have to take out shoes, as sign of respect in mosques,
didn't they also thought to make "pantoufles" for them ?

 

[Jarnhamar]

What about only having female Muslim police officers entering said buildings.

Or perhaps,  ban women police officers all together- to improve relations of course. 

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Britian's PC pendulum has swung so far that nothing coming out of there suprises me anymore. One day, and it may be soon, they'll wake up and Britannia will be gone, a distant memory. Hard to believe that tiny island stood against the might of Europe.

 

[Spanky]

It seems similar to me to men donning a yarmulke when entering a Synagogue (although Synagogues usually supply them to their guests), or taking your hat off when entering a church, or your shoes off when entering other places of worship.  It's a show of respect for the customs of the people for whom that building is special.

Agreed, it is a similar concept and shouldn't be too onerous to implement, but what is the next step?  Will female officers have to start wearing them when dealing with muslims while on the street?  Then it would be too much of a hassle taking the hijab on and off, so just wear them all the time!

 

[Kat Stevens]

It's a sign of respect. You know, like moving to another country and not killing women and teen aged girls and dumping them in canals, because that's not their tradition.

 

[OldSolduer]

It's a sign of respect. You know, like moving to another country and not killing women and teen aged girls and dumping them in canals, because that's not their tradition.

Bang on Kat!

 

[Neill McKay]

I remember having to put booties on to go into peoples houses and search. It usually gave them enough time to run out the back door with weapons into the woods where we weren't allowed to follow.

Seems like a fair idea. Where will it stop? Easy, it won't.

As others have suggested, I don't see this as being hugely different from police officers taking their hats off when entering a Christian church so I'm not especially bothered by it.  But in all cases I think common sense should prevail: when entering a mosque in a "tactical" situation -- chasing someone or whatever -- I hope the cops won't be expected by their leadership to pause at the door while they fiddle with their clothing.  And I suspect that they won't.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

If it were just covering up when attending a place of worship, I don't think anyone could argue. However, given Britian's propencity of late, to roll over whenever challenged by a special interest group, I fear this is but a first step.

 

[the_girlfirend]

It's a sign of respect. You know, like moving to another country and not killing women and teen aged girls and dumping them in canals, because that's not their tradition.

;D ;D ;D

I understand that they need to improve their relationship with the muslim community... and if some women police officers are willing to do that... it is fine with me. But I would not want to put a religious symbol over my head, I am bogged with the fact that women only have to cover their head... and I am wondering what would happen to a woman police officer that refuses to wear it for personal reasons... (which I think is understandable)
Now if it is an issued uniform... is it mandatory? or would she just be assigned to another task that does not require her to get into the actual building?

 

[daftandbarmy]

Britian's PC pendulum has swung so far that nothing coming out of there suprises me anymore. One day, and it may be soon, they'll wake up and Britannia will be gone, a distant memory. Hard to believe that tiny island stood against the might of Europe.

I have no idea what you mean by that. Then again... I'd better crank up the Trans-Atlantic piss taking machine

Gay soldier becomes Armed Forces' magazine's first homosexual pin-up

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1202651/Gay-soldier-Armed-Forces-magazines-homosexual-pin-up.html

 

[1feral1]

I understand that they need to improve their relationship with the muslim community...

Perhaps the muslim community of England should try to improve their relationship with the English at large?

The Finsbury mosque comes to mind, and the recent anniversary of the bombings of July  2005  with at least 50 murdered. There seems to always be silence from thier own moderates these days.

Seems the political correct madness of late is going crazy still, yet France and Holland are considering banning the burqua, and on the news here, the UK was looking into it. Bnning not for religous reasons, but for women's rights. 

France: http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25754922-663,00.html?from=public_rss

Holland: http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=20721&sec=36&con=45

Brisbane: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/death-threats-over-brisbane-djs-hijab-jibe/2009/01/17/1231608986827.html

And again: http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24913953-952,00.html

After France announced their intentions there were death threats recieved world wide..

In Brisbane after a talk show radio program discussed removal of the burqua in banks, that host recieved death threats to himself and his family. How pathetic.

Regards,

OWDU

 

[Antoine]

France is a republic with a tradition of the nation above the individual interest (yes, it has been abused and abused by people in power serving their own interest first).
However, the tendency to solve social problems goes from collective solutions to the individuals that need to deal with numerous compromises. Also France was requiring the colonies to adapt to French culture and not the otherway around. The way France deals with immigration isn't great, numerous ghetto, racism and so on (I am from France), of course it is more complex then what I am describing, I don't held any formal education in humanities, so it is still a thought in process for me.

However, my point is: as much as the English language is reverse to the French one, the same is for many things such as the way England was dealing with their colonies and how they do with immigration in our days. The multiculturalism is an Anglo-Saxon tradition, difficult to grasp for a French Republican. Some people are happy with it, and other from London aren't and multiculturalism leads also to the formation of gettho.

This is one of numerous reason why Quebec deals with immigration in a different way compare to the rest of Canada and why numerous Quebecois are not convinced about multiculturalism.

My  :2c:

 

[Jarnhamar]

Perhaps the muslim community of England should try to improve their relationship with the English at large?

I wondered this too.