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Reducing Ethnic Profiling in the European Union - Open Society ...

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UNITED KINGDOMStrathclyde Police’s Counter-Terrorism Community Consultation 241The Strathclyde Police has some 38 <strong>in</strong>dependent and/or “community advisors,”recruited from different religious, cultural, ethnic, and lifestyle backgrounds whoprovide strategic or tactical advice on community issues. They also comment onpolicy and assist <strong>in</strong> operational matters where specialized knowledge is required.Advisors are vetted to <strong>the</strong> same standard as a police officer.Immediately after <strong>the</strong> June 2007 terrorist attack on Glasgow airport, StrathclydePolice <strong>in</strong>vited community advisors <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> police headquarters to follow eventsand receive regular operational brief<strong>in</strong>gs. The group met for four days follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>cident, and reviewed all <strong>the</strong> press releases and <strong>the</strong> statement issued by <strong>the</strong> chiefconstable. The advisors were able to feed <strong>the</strong> communities concerns <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> processand provide op<strong>in</strong>ions on <strong>the</strong> appropriate approaches.An immediate concern was <strong>the</strong> need for public reassurance. For Muslim communities,this <strong>in</strong>volved safety from both terrorist threats and possible hate crimes.Community advisors encouraged police to conduct highly visible patrols <strong>in</strong> ethnicm<strong>in</strong>ority neighborhoods and places of worship. Advisors participated <strong>in</strong> some patrolsand facilitated exchange of <strong>in</strong>formation between <strong>the</strong> community and <strong>the</strong> police.The advisors also participated <strong>in</strong> operational decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g. In <strong>the</strong> days follow<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> attack, it emerged that a vehicle belong<strong>in</strong>g to one of <strong>the</strong> suspects was parkedoutside <strong>the</strong> Forth Street Mosque <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> city. The advisors worked with <strong>the</strong> police andMosque Committee to negotiate appropriate access. The police waited until prayershad f<strong>in</strong>ished before carry<strong>in</strong>g out “controlled disruptions” and forensic <strong>in</strong>vestigations.The police were careful <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir media statements to make clear that <strong>the</strong>re were nol<strong>in</strong>ks between <strong>the</strong> mosque and <strong>the</strong> vehicle.Community consultation presents particular challenges <strong>in</strong> immigration or bordercontrols where <strong>the</strong>re is no “community” per se. None<strong>the</strong>less, consultation is possible,as demonstrated by <strong>the</strong> case studies of consultation by <strong>the</strong> Greater Manchester Police<strong>in</strong> Manchester Airport, <strong>the</strong> National Accountability Board for Schedule 7 anti-terrorismstops <strong>in</strong> airports and <strong>the</strong> United K<strong>in</strong>gdom Border Authority.The United K<strong>in</strong>gdom Borders Agency (UKBA) holds regular consultations or“stakeholder meet<strong>in</strong>gs” with local community organizations, NGOs, lawyers, and o<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>terest groups. Previous meet<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> Belfast highlighted difficulties <strong>in</strong> access<strong>in</strong>g immigrationservices as <strong>the</strong>re is no UKBA office <strong>in</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Ireland, forc<strong>in</strong>g immigrantsREDUCING ETHNIC PROFILING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION 161

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