Police new head scarfs

DrDee · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:33

Something has seriously gone wrong when the French seem to be more strong when it comes to standing up for its own culture

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/8171151.stm

Avon and Somerset Police is issuing head coverings to its female officers so they can enter mosques.

The force says the move will help its officers respect Muslim religious customs while carrying out their job.

The garments, designed to match the force's uniform, were designed in consultation with Muslim groups.

Imam Rashad Azami, of Bath, said: "This will go a long way in encouraging a trustful relationship between the police and the Muslim community."

Mr Azami, director of Bath Islamic Society, said: "The police have been working closely with the Muslim community in the area on many levels for the last few years."

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 carry the force's crest.

Janesy B · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:34

Madness.

antijoke · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:38

Oh good god.

TheCenturion · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:38

ok... so the police are now playing fancy dress and dressing up as muslims to enter mosques? great

Cosimo · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:40

anticonscience said:
Oh good god.

They have to say that when they enter. It's just respect.

Vonhelmet · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:44

Nothing wrong with a bit of respect and tolerance. Still, I'll let the bandwagon roll on. I know how you all like a good lynching.

Janesy B · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:46

vonhelmet said:
Nothing wrong with a bit of respect and tolerance. Still, I'll let the bandwagon roll on. I know how you all like a good lynching.

How about a bit of respect from the other side? All I see is the Police bowing down to the wishes of the minorities but very little respect is shown in return.

antijoke · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:49

vonhelmet said:
Nothing wrong with a bit of respect and tolerance. Still, I'll let the bandwagon roll on. I know how you all like a good lynching.

Respect and tolerance hey? What about respect and tolerance from the Muslim community that if the police must come knocking then they do not need to adhere to their dress code?

But alas, I forget, how we must all be socially equal (as long as the equal we play to is the Muslim religion).

Fenris · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:49

I'm mostly OK with this, I mean it's not like they have to wear them all the time, if they were made to wear like a full vale thingy then yes I would probably argue it was ridiculous but this just seems like the police don't want to insult a group of people, which when you need respect to realy do you job is a good idea.

V4NT0M · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:50

Yay, religion is stupid

z0mbi3 · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:51

anticonscience said:
Respect and tolerance hey? What about respect and tolerance from the Muslim community that if the police must come knocking then they do not need to adhere to their dress code?

Isn't it just a gesture of good will though? Kind of like offering to take your shoes off when you go in someone's house? They don't have to do it, but because they've made the effort it's likely they'll be better received.

Django x2 · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:51

Smoke them out then shoot them all, etc

Skyrunner · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:52

Gah! How about they/we show the police some respect and let them carry out thier duty without things like this?!

Yet more of the departments budget wasted to make a more PC PC.

vincent1989 · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:53

oh good, people who aren't muslims being forced to dress as muslims, and so it begins...

DrDee · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:54

vonhelmet said:
Nothing wrong with a bit of respect and tolerance. Still, I'll let the bandwagon roll on. I know how you all like a good lynching.

A bit of respect and tolerance? So not letting a Police officer into a building because she isn't covered up shows respect and tolerance? It goes both ways, why the Police have caved in on this I do not know.

Fenris · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:55

vincent1989 said:
oh good, people who aren't muslims being forced to dress as muslims, and so it begins...

Oh come on, it's to go into a mosque ONLY and it's just a bit of bloody cloth, this is basicaly ther same as z0mbi3 said, like taking your shoes off when going into someone's house, it's not like they are being forced to speak a differant language or pray before they can go in.

z0mbi3 · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:57

DrDee said:
A bit of respect and tolerance? So not letting a Police officer into a building because she isn't covered up shows respect and tolerance? It goes both ways, why the Police have caved in on this I do not know.

I don't think the article is saying officers are refused entry based on the lack of a head scarf. If I understand it right the head scarf is just about them being better received.

DrDee · 28 Jul 2009 at 10:00

z0mbi3 said:
The article doesn't say they've ever been refused entry for not wearing a head scarf, it's about showing a bit of respect and encouraging trustful relations.

BBC said:
Avon and Somerset Police is issuing head coverings to its female officers so they can enter mosques.

OK, its probably just a poorly written article, but the very fact that people would complain about the issue is surely the point, and that the complaint has been legitimised and respected offends me.

antijoke · 28 Jul 2009 at 10:00

You need to be better received to go about police business? Oh please.

BigBadBenny · 28 Jul 2009 at 10:00

Seems like common sense to me.