"Home Office guidance says mosques should apply for security measures provided for free by the Home Office if they have experienced or feel vulnerable to hate crime, of if there has been hate crime in the area towards other places of worship or their congregants. However, it advises applicants to provide detailed evidence of incidents, such as graffiti, or police reports, saying that applications that do not include strong evidence are unlikely to be successful."
"Ahmed said that in practice, this meant a mosque had to be attacked and get supporting evidence from police or councils before it could qualify. She added: Mosques tell us that they report low-level incidents and won't get a response from the police. Sometimes they would report suspicious people near the mosque and police wouldn't respond."
"Ahmed said the incident demonstrated why mosques needed enhanced security but said many were missing out under the current system, despite incidents becoming more common and more violent."
The Home Office announced £40 million in funding for security measures at mosques, Muslim schools, and community centers through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme. However, the scheme requires facilities to demonstrate they have experienced hate crimes before accessing funds. Akeela Ahmed, chief executive of the British Muslim Trust, argues this requirement leaves mosques unprotected because many incidents go unreported or unresponded to by police. Recent violent incidents, including a man with weapons at Manchester Central Mosque, highlight the need for enhanced security. Ahmed contends that mosques should qualify based on vulnerability assessments rather than requiring documented evidence of prior attacks, as current criteria effectively demand facilities be attacked first before receiving protection.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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