A London police officer has confirmed to Breitbart London that Britain’s coppers are more alert and vigilant because of what he calls “Islamification” in the UK’s capital city, confirming in part U.S. Presidential Candidate Donald Trump’s claims that London police are more afraid for their lives in areas prone to radicalisation.
Mr. Trump’s comments were derided by the “impartial” British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as well as London’s part-time mayor Boris Johnson, and Prime Minister David Cameron. He said in a speech this week that parts of London are “so radicalised the police are afraid for their lives”.
But a Metropolitan Police source has spoken out against the claims made by the British political establishment, telling Breitbart London that “Islamification” is not new, and that it is not just London that has a problem.
A Downing Street spokesman said the British PM “completely disagree[d]” with Mr Trump and thinks “his views are wrong” while Mr. Cameron’s old school friend Mr. Johnson joined in the fray, quipping: “…the only reason I wouldn’t go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump”.
But a Metropolitan Police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Breitbart London: “Islamification has and is occurring. Muslim areas are not new.”
The officer, who has most of his experience in West London and across various police constabularies, added: “When I was a teenage lad in [B]urnley there were no go white areas. This IS the case still nationally… including London where you have to have extra vigilance in certain parts when you are working”.
Another serving police officer confirmed the restrictions. He told LBC radio police weren’t scared, but admitted bosses had told officers to avoid wearing uniforms in certain places in the capital. He said:
“There has been a time when it’s been advised not to wear half-blues or uniform to and from work.
“It’s like damage limitation. You try to do the most you can to prevent anything bad from happening.
“All intelligence is around you and you do the best with that to essentially stay safe. And if that means taking measures to not identify yourself off-duty too much then so be it.
“It’s covering your backs. It’s a common sense approach.”
The comments run contrary to the officer’s bosses from the Metropolitan Police, which is not supposed to take political stances, but issued a statement that said:
“We would not normally dignify such comments with a response, however, on this occasion we think it’s important to state to Londoners that Mr Trump could not be more wrong.
“Any candidate for the presidential election in the United States of America is welcome to receive a briefing from the Met police on the reality of policing London.”
There is a difference of views between police leadership, who want to appear in control, and beat officers who experience the day to day of policing in Britain.
In January 2014, Tom Winsor, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary told the Times newspaper: “There are some communities born under other skies who will not involve the police at all… I am reluctant to name the communities in question but there are communities from other cultures who would prefer to police themselves. There are cities in the Midlands where the police never go because they are never called. They never hear of any trouble because the community deals with that on its own . . . They just have their own form of community justice.”
But he was careful to state: “It’s not that the police are afraid to go into these areas or don’t want to go into those areas, but if the police don’t get calls for help then of course they won’t know what’s going on.”
His comments may be perceived as “public relations” on behalf of the police leadership. Breitbart London understands that while police don’t “refuse” to go into areas, they are increasingly concerned about entering some areas – a trend that is reflected across the European continent.
One close-protection security expert told Breitbart London earlier today: “You have to be more vigilant in some areas than others due to demographics and radicalisation. Absolutely, without question. Anybody that states otherwise would be burying their head in the sand and ignoring the reality”.
In London, Breitbart London exclusively reported on security in the Muslim-dominated borough of Tower Hamlets. In the months that followed, the “elected” Mayor Lutfur Rahman was found guilty of corruption, bribery, and exercising “undue spiritual influence” over voters.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.