Police
warned over Ramadan arrests
Press Association
Saturday October 21, 2006 1:58 PM
Police in Manchester,
England have been told not to arrest Muslims wanted on warrants at prayer times
during the holy month of Ramadan.
An internal email listing
prayer times was sent to officers in the metropolitan division asking them not
to make planned arrests during those periods for reasons of religious
sensitivity, Greater Manchester Police confirmed.
Some officers are said to
have been angered by the instruction.
But a police spokesman
said confusion arose because the original memo was unclear, and a second email
has clarified that there is no blanket ban on arrests, simply a request for
sensitivity.
The latter email also
stressed the order did not apply to on-the-spot arrests, only the execution of
arrest warrants.
Greater Manchester Police
describe their metropolitan division as covering "one of the most diverse
in the UK with a wide range of ethnic groups". It serves the communities
of Moss Side, Hulme, Whalley Range, Rusholme, Fallowfield, Ardwick, Longsight,
Gorton and Levenshulme.
Ramadan is due to end next
week, with Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations marking the end of the fasting period.
A Greater Manchester
Police statement said: "The primary objective of Greater Manchester Police
is to fight crime and protect people.
"The month of Ramadan
is an important time of the year for members of the Muslim community throughout
the world.
"It is important that
normal, planned policing activities and operations are maintained, while
ensuring that officers are professional and respectful to members of the
community while going about their duties."