Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Muslim Safety Forum: Senior Police and Muslim Community Engagement During the War on Terror

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Preventing Ideological Violence

Abstract

In this chapter I will provide a brief, preliminary account of police and Muslim community dialogue at the Muslim Safety Forum (MSF) in London; in doing so I will draw on my experience as a police member of the MSF and later as an academic researcher (Lambert 2011a; 2011b). Between 2001 and 2011, the MSF was home to regular meetings between senior police officers and representatives of Islamic institutions and Muslim community organizations. When the dialogue commenced, there was an expectation on both sides of the table that the forum would provide opportunities to enhance public safety for all London citizens and improve relations between the police and Muslim communities. Ten years later when MSF dialogue ended, there was a mixed record of success and failure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ansari, Humayan. 2004. “The Infidel Within”: Muslims In Britain since 1800. London: Hurst.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balloch, Susan, and Marilyn Taylor. Eds. 2001. Partnership Working: Policy and Practice. Bristol: The Policy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • BBC News. 2005. Muslim Scholar’s Invite Defended. July 12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4675335.stm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair, Tony. 2010. A Journey. London: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair, Tony. 2011. A Journey. London: Arrow. Paperback edition: new introduction.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, Rob, and Paul Lewis. 2011. “Progressive Academic Bob Lambert Is Former Police Spy.” The Guardian, October 16. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/16/academic-bob-lambert-former-police-spy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fradkin, Hillel. 2005. “Preface.” In Current Trends in Islamist Ideology. Vol. 2. Edited by Hillel Fradkin, Husain Haqqani, and Eric Brown. 1–3. Washington, DC: The Hudson Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Githens-Mazer, Jonathan and Robert Lambert. 2010. Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate Crime: London Case Study. Exeter: University of Exeter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gove, Michael. 2006. Celsius 7/7. London: Weidenfield and Nicholson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard, Paddy. 1993. Suspect Community: People’s Experience of the Prevention of Terrorism Acts in Britain. London: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillyard, Paddy. 2005. “The ‘War on Terror’: Lessons from Northern Ireland.” Essays for Civil Liberties and Democracy in Europe. London: ECLN. http://www.ecln.org/essays/essay-1.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickam, Mary, Lyn Thomas, Sara Silvestri, and Henri Nickels. 2011. A Comparative Study of the Representations of “Suspect” Communities in Multi-EthnicBritain and ofTheirImpactonMuslim and Irish Communities. London: London Metropolitan University. http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research-units/iset/projects/esrc-suspect-communities.cfm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islamophobia Watch. 2005. “Sun Denounces Tariq Ramadan as Terrorist Supporter.” July 12. http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2005/7/ 12/sun-denounces-tariq-ramadan-as-t errorist-supporter. html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islamophobia Watch. 2009a. “Witch-Hunt of Azad Ali Continues, Courtesy of Andrew Gilligan.” March 12. http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2009/3/12/witch-hunt-of-azad-ali-continues-courtesy-of-andrew-gilligan.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Islamophobia Watch. 2009b. “Boris Capitulates to Evening Standard Witch-Hunt of Azad Ali.” March 13. http://islamophobia-watch.squarespace.com/islamophobia-watch/2009/3/ 13/boris- capitulates-to- evening-standar d-witch-hunt- of-azad-ali.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, Richard. 2008. “Counter-Terrorism and Communities: An Interview with Robert Lambert.” Critical Studies on Terrorism. August: 293–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert. 2008a. “Empowering Salafis and Islamists against Al-Qaeda: A London Counter-Terrorism Case Study.” Political Science and Politics 41 (1): 31–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert. 2008b. “Salafi and Islamist Londoners: Stigmatised Minority Faith Communities Countering al-Qaida,” Crime Law and Social Change. Special Issue 50: 73–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert. 2011a. Countering Al Qaeda in London: Police and Muslims in Partnership. London: Hurst.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert. 2011b. “Competing Counter-Terrorism Models in the UK.” In Jihadi Terrorism and the Radicalisation Challenge. Edited by Rik Coolsaet. Farnham: Ashgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert. 2011c. “Community Intervention as an Engagement Strategy— al-Qaeda in London.” In Engaging Extremists: Trade-offs, Timing and Diplomacy. Edited by W. Zartman and G. O. Faure. 81–105. Washington DC: United States Institute of Peace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert. 2012a. “Counter-Terrorism and Its Effectiveness in the UK since 1969: Does It Pay to Be Tough on Terrorism?” In Ashgate Research Companion to Political Violence. Edited by Marie Breen-Smyth. 728–754. Ashgate: Aldershot.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert. 2012b. Rebuilding Trust and Credibility. CSTPV staff webpage. http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~cstpv/staff/staff.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, Robert, and Jonathan Githens-Mazer. 2010. Islamophobia and Anti -Muslim Hate Crime: UK Case Studies. Exeter: University of Exeter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Metropolitan Police News. 2012. “London Muslim Communities Forum Launched.” March 27. http://content.met.police.uk/News/LondonMuslim-Communities-Forum-launched/1400007687255/12572467 45756.

  • Muslim Council of Britain. 2003. “Police Harassment of Leading British Muslim Scholar”—press release. November 15. http://www.mcb.org.uk/media/presstext.php?ann_id=53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oborne, Peter. 2006. The Use and Abuse of Terror: The Construction of a False Narrative on the Domestic Terror Threat. London: Centre for Policy Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oborne, Peter. 2011. “Where’s the Divide?” The Spectator, January 29.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Sullivan, Jack. 2006. “Visionary Arab Scholar Who Helped British Islam Make Peace with Modernity: An Obituary.” The Guardian, January 25. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/jan/25/guardianobituaries. religion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owen, David. 2007. The Hubris Syndrome: Bush, Blair and the Intoxication of Power. London: Politicos.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spalek, Basia. 2002. Religious Diversity, British Muslims, Crime and Victimisation. In Islam, Crime and Criminal Justice. Edited by Basia Spalek. 50–71. Cullompton: Devon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spalek, Basia. 2005. “British Muslims and Community Safety Post-September 11th.” Community Safety Journal 4 (2): 12–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spalek, Basia, and Robert Lambert. 2008. “Muslim Communities, Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation: A Critically Reflective Approach to Engagement.” International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice 36 (4): 257–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spalek, Basia, and Robert Lambert. 2010. “Policing within a Counter-Terrorism Context Post-7/7.” In The New Extremism in 21st Century Britain. Edited by Roger Eatwell, Matthew Goodwin. Oxon, UK: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Sun. 2005. “Meet Islamic Militant Professor.” July 12, via Islamophobia Watch. http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/2005/7/12/sun-denounces-tariq-ramadan-as-terrorist-supporter.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarafder, Ruhul. 2005. “1990 Trust/Blink press release: The Sun’s Irresponsible Front Page”. July 13, via Islamophobia Watch. http://www.islamophobia-watch.com/islamophobia-watch/category/tariqramadan?currentPage=11.

  • Travis, Alan. 2005. “Ministers Seek Assurance on Treatment of Deportees.” The Guardian, July 15 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/jul/ 15/july7.immigrationandpublicservices.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tupman, W. A. and C. O’Reilly. 2004. “Terrorism, Hegemony and Legitimacy: Evaluating Success and Failure in the War on Terror.” Political Studies Association Conference, Lincoln, August 3, 2004. http://www.psa.ac.uk/cps/2004/tupman.pdf accessed 4.8. 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Versi, Ahmed J. 2002. “British Muslims Complain of Harassment by Security Services.” Muslim News, August 24. http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/index/press.php?pr=152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Versi, Ahmed J. 2003, Ahmed J. 2003. “Muslim Leader’s Detention Condemned.” Muslim News, November 28. http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article= 1359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wintour, Patrick. 2005. “Blair Vows to Root out Extremism.” The Guardian, August6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/aug/06/terrorism. july7.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Robert Lambert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

P. Daniel Silk Basia Spalek Mary O’Rawe

Copyright information

© 2013 P. Daniel Silk, Basia Spalek, and Mary O’Rawe

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lambert, R. (2013). The Muslim Safety Forum: Senior Police and Muslim Community Engagement During the War on Terror. In: Silk, P.D., Spalek, B., O’Rawe, M. (eds) Preventing Ideological Violence. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137290380_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation