Met Orders Review After Muslim Officer Refuses To Guard Israeli Embassy

[Oldbillplod]

Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan police commissioner, last night ordered an urgent review of a policy that allows officers to refuse certain duties on moral grounds after a decision to excuse a Muslim policeman from guarding the Israeli embassy.

PC Alexander Omar Basha, who is attached to the force's Diplomatic Protection Group, objected to being posted to protect Israel's embassy in central London from possible terrorist attack because he disagreed with the country's bombing of Lebanon. The officer had reportedly attended a recent anti-war protest.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said Sir Ian had ordered a rethink of the service's policy to consider special dispensations on moral grounds.
"Having learned of this issue I have asked for an urgent review of the situation and a full report into the circumstances," he said. A Met spokesman earlier said allowances were occasionally granted to officers who objected to duties on moral grounds.

"In terms of the general protocol for officers requesting to be moved for any reason we'd say that on occasions, for a variety of reasons, an officer may have to be moved within a specific command," the spokesman said. "Each case is considered separately, balancing the needs of the Metropolitan police service against those of the individual and the role which they will have to perform."

The case has provoked unease from those who worry that officers may be able to start picking and choosing their duties. John O'Connor, a former Flying Squad commander, told today's Sun: "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?

[Valor55]

Just show up and do your job and do it professionally. I worked guarding Bush's first innauguration. I would have been there if it was Gore's innauguration too.

[fatboyjim154]

Pee's me off. Lengthy discussion in the office today re this. Involved me & 2 ex-DPG officers ranting about sacking on the spot, or at least shifting him off the DPG.

You protect everyone no matter what your religeous beliefs or social views, or you become one of the sheeple.

[jamez]

Just show up and do your job and do it professionally. I worked guarding Bush's first innauguration. I would have been there if it was Gore's innauguration too.

It's almost impossible to find someone who will do their job without whining about it. It all pays the same and the employer has a nice little caption at the bottom of the appliacation that says, 'and other duties as may be required'.

I'm with Valor on this one. Just do your job. :rolleyes:

[madsnax]

Fired!

[ObMax1212]

Why are they guarding the Israeli embassy to begin with?

[fatboyjim154]

Why are they guarding the Israeli embassy to begin with?

They, the Diplomatic Protection Group, guard all Embassies.

[Oldbillplod]

Why are they guarding the Israeli embassy to begin with?

They have to guard all embasies and consulates as part of the Geneva convention.

[ObMax1212]

I see.