§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific guidance he has given since 15 January to chief police officers regarding attacks on Muslims and other ethnic minorities and their properties; if he plans to give any further guidance in the immediate future; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydDecisions about the deployment of officers and other operational matters are solely the responsibility of individual chief officers. It would therefore be inappropriate for specific guidance to be issued to chief officers about attacks on Muslims and other ethnic minorities and their properties.
All chief officers are aware of the continuing need to respond to racially motivated incidents as a priority. Close links are maintained between the Government and the Association of Chief Police Officers on community and race relations issues through regular discussions. These meetings have been used in recent months to ensure that all 699W developments and tensions relating to British Muslims during the Gulf crisis have been closely monitored by police forces. The Government will continue to issue guidance as appropriate on the response by the police and other agencies in tackling these unacceptable crimes.