Robert Jenrick hopeful places of worship will open in ‘the coming weeks’

Places of worship in England will probably open for private prayer before opening up for small weddings and services, the Communities Secretary said.

Robert Jenrick said he understands why people of faith may find it “strange” that places of worship would remain closed when shops and other places may open in the coming weeks and months.

He said he is working closely with faith leaders and has convened a taskforce which has brought together “the main faith leaders”.

Mr Jenrick was asked at the daily Downing Street briefing about the reopening of places of worship, and he said he wants them opened “as quickly as we can”.

He added: “I understand how important it is for millions of people in this country, and I can understand how people of faith would consider it strange that shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants, many other settings, might be open in the weeks and months ahead, but not somewhere as important as a place of worship.”

Mr Jenrick said some faiths have already produced detailed guidance, working alongside Public Health England, on measures including cordoning off sections, ensuring cleanliness, training volunteers and restricting the number of people allowed in at any one time.

“I think the first logical step is probably to open places of worship for individual or private prayer, and that’s what we’re working towards with the faith leaders, and then that will be a springboard hopefully, conditional on the rate of infection obviously, to small weddings, for example, again very important to many people, and then in time to services,” he said.

Mr Jenrick added: “I’m hopeful that the work that we’re doing with faith leaders will bear fruit, and that we’ll be able to see places of worship open in the coming weeks.”

He said what is to be avoided is large gatherings in places of worship, “particularly because of the demographic in some faiths”, and referred to the particular problem of exhalation during the singing of hymns.

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Categories: Churches, COVID-19, MHCLG, News, Places of Worship, Robert Jenrick

Prisoner admits sending threatening letter to Boris Johnson and female MPs

A prison inmate has admitted sending a threatening letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Rakeem Malik also pleaded guilty to making threats to kill against MPs Jess Phillips and Rosie Cooper, and sending threatening letters with the intention of causing “distress or anxiety” to both Theresa May and Ms Phillips.

The 53-year-old admitted eight offences in total during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.

Malik, who the court heard is currently a serving prisoner at HMP Birmingham on an indeterminate sentence, spoke only to confirm his name and enter pleas to the charges.

He admitted to sending a letter “which conveyed a message which was a threat and your purpose in sending it was it could cause distress or anxiety” to Mr Johnson on or about December 6, 2019.

Malik also pleaded guilty to sending similar letters to Birmingham Yardley MP Ms Phillips in December 2019, and to former prime minister Mrs May in September 2019, and when she was still in office in December 2018.

He also admitted three counts of making threats to kill West Lancashire MP Ms Cooper in May 2019 and a similar charge of making threats to kill against Ms Phillips in November 2019.

Simon Davis, prosecuting, asked for a short adjournment to allow the Crown to speak with the victims about the impact of Malik’s communications.

“The main reason is that we’ve had insufficient time in order to canvas the views, if I can put it in very general terms, of the victims, in this case,” he said.

“Also we’ve not been able to get ourselves in a position to formulate an appropriate (court) order to address any future offending.”

Granting the prosecution’s application for an adjournment, Judge Melbourne Inman QC, the Recorder of Birmingham, said: “It’s obviously necessary for the case to be put off for a short time to enable the Crown to deal with matters outstanding.

“Mr Malik has now pleaded guilty and sentence will be passed on June 11.

“There’s no requirement for Mr Malik to be brought to court, the case can be dealt with as a remote video hearing.”

Malik, who appeared over a video-link for the 30-minute hearing, was remanded back into custody until next month.

After the hearing, Ms Phillips tweeted: “Today I hope will be some way towards a conclusion in this case in court.

“Sending massive thanks to the police and also to my staff and other parliamentary staff who are often the first to receive gruesome threats and frightening aggression.”

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Categories: Jess Phillips, News, Prisoner, Rakeem Malik, threats, Threats to MPs

Minneapolis officer charged following death of black man in custody

The Minneapolis officer who was seen on video kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died in custody after pleading that he could not breathe, has been arrested and charged with murder.

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Derek Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

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Categories: George Floyd, Minneapolis, News

Muslim family abused by a group of men and told their Eid clothes ‘stink’

A Muslim woman walking with her young sister to celebrate Eid near to a park described how a group of men in a passing car made several derogatory remarks and laughed about their traditional clothing.

One comment included, “how are people going to come out like this with their Eid clothes on?! They stink as well!”.

Speaking to Tell MAMA, she added that the comments had terrified her young sister.

The incident took place in the Reading area on May 24 at around 17:00 GMT.

To further protect their identities, we are declining to name the park in question.

She described the main perpetrator as an Indian male in his mid-to-late twenties, as the two other men, described as laughing at the remarks, she described as being of the same age and black.

In 2018, Tell MAMA recorded the details of 1,196 perpetrators, with 482 verified as male. The dataset for that year also revealed that the perpetrators were older than those they targeted. And, consistent with previous annual reports, of the known/disclosed victims, the majority were female (57 per cent, n=721)

In that same reporting year, Tell MAMA verified 400 (54 per cent) incidents of anti-Muslim and Islamophobic incidents categorised as abusive behaviour.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

 

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Categories: abuse, News, stink

Officer who put knee on black man’s neck ‘should be charged over death’

The mayor of Minneapolis has called for criminal charges to be filed against the white police officer seen on video kneeling on the neck of a handcuffed black man during an arrest, even after the man said he could not breathe and stopped moving.

Based on the video, mayor Jacob Frey said he believes officer Derek Chauvin should be charged over the death of George Floyd.

Chauvin and three other officers were fired on Tuesday. The video recorded by a bystander shows Chauvin with his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck for several minutes as Mr Floyd is on the ground with his face against the pavement.

“I’ve wrestled with, more than anything else over the last 36 hours, one fundamental question: Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail?” said Mr Frey, who is white.

He later added: “I saw no threat. I saw nothing that would signal that this kind of force was necessary.”

But despite the officers’ swift dismissals, whether the death will be considered a criminal act or something less, like excessive force, is a more complicated question that will likely take months to investigate.

Mr Floyd’s death prompted protests, with thousands taking to the streets where he died.

Many protesters marched more than 2 miles to the police station in that part of the city, with some damaging the building’s windows and cars and spraying graffiti. Police in riot gear eventually confronted them with tear gas and projectiles. Tense clashes went on late into the evening.

The FBI and state law enforcement are investigating Mr Floyd’s death, which immediately drew comparisons to the case of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who died in 2014 in New York after he was placed in a chokehold by police and pleaded for his life, saying he could not breathe.

In the Garner case, local prosecutors, the NYPD’s internal affairs unit and the Justice Department all finished investigations into the case before the officer was ultimately fired. Mr Garner’s family and activists spent years begging for the officer to be removed.

The officers in the Minneapolis case have not been publicly identified, though one defence lawyer has confirmed he is representing Chauvin. The lawyer, Tom Kelly, declined to comment further.

The police union asked the public to wait for the investigation to take its course and not to “rush to judgment and immediately condemn our officers”.

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Categories: Black man, Criminal charges, George Floyd, Minneapolis, News

Tinned pork left outside Muslim family’s home during Ramadan

A Muslim family spoke of their shock after discovering tinned pork products placed on their wall and that of their neighbour when returning home one evening.

The incident occurred during the final week of the holy month of Ramadan in the Birmingham area.

The family added that such an incident had never happened in the area before.

Tell MAMA has long documented how perpetrators have targeted the homes or vehicles of Muslims with pork products – from placing rashers of bacon on car door handles or pushing them through letterboxes.

Nor have Islamic institutions (and their proposed locations) been immune from such visceral anti-Muslim and Islamophobic incidents either in recent years.

Just last week, the Jamia Masjid Sultania in Sneinton, Nottingham, had pork drippings, raw meat, dog waste and soiled nappies tossed into their car park. In a Facebook post dated May 20, the mosque revealed that Nottinghamshire Police are also investigating a string of threatening letters sent to the mosque.

Nor is the issue isolated to the UK either, with pig’s head and pork products targeting mosques in Germany and the Czech Republic in 2020. And, in March 2019, a pig’s head and animal blood appeared at the entrance to a proposed mosque in Bergerac, France.

The weaponisation of pork to cause harm to Muslims is not a recent phenomenon either and remains an ideological fixation of the far-right.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

 

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Categories: News, pork

Vicar tells of disappointment as Government confirms no lockdown fine review

A vicar has told of his disappointment as the Government confirmed there will be no review of lockdown fines handed to families travelling for childcare purposes.

The Health Secretary pledged to speak to the Treasury after the Rev Martin Poole, from Brighton, raised the issue at the daily Downing Street press conference.

Matt Hancock faced a string of questions over the ongoing row about the Prime Minister’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings travelling to Durham with his wife and child.

Mr Poole, from Brighton, asked him: “Will the Government review all penalty fines imposed on families travelling for childcare purposes during lockdown?”

Mr Hancock vowed to give a “full answer” in writing and promised to make an announcement on the issue at a future press conference.

But within minutes of the press conference coming to an end, Downing Street sources briefed political reporters that there will be no review.

And on Wednesday, Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed that there will not be a review of penalties handed out for childcare-related travel.

He told BBC’s Breakfast programme: “No, there isn’t going to be a formal review. It’s for the police to decide whether to impose fines under the law.

“They have the guidance that we’ve provided and the national police chiefs have provided their own guidance which does give officers a degree of discretion to use their common sense, reflecting the fact that all of our circumstances are different and families in particular face particular challenges.

“They are encouraging their officers to engage in the first instance, to explain and to resort to fines only where absolutely necessary and in most cases that is what’s happened.”

Mr Jenrick insisted Mr Cummings did not break the rules and has not been fined, but Mr Poole said he thought the police should look into it.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “I took him (Mr Hancock) at his word that he would go away and have some discussions and that was really nice to hear. It’s a little disappointing to hear afterwards that they’ve rowed back on that a bit.

“What I want is honesty from Government all the time and if their response is they can’t review things or they don’t want to, I accept that they’ll say that.

“But I do feel that if there are people with children, who have been fined for doing that, then they’ll want some sort of recourse.”

Asked if he knew of any families who had been fined, he added: “I don’t know anyone who has, but I know plenty of people where both parents (are) sick with small children and have deliberately stayed in because that’s what they understood the rules to say.

“And I think, more widely, there’s just that feeling that there’s a different set of rules for those in leadership than there are for the rest of us.”

Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said Mr Poole’s question needed an urgent answer from Home Secretary Priti Patel.

On Tuesday evening, Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “It’s now been made incredibly difficult to police vital public health guidance, as this flip-flop over fines shows.”

The Treasury and the Home Office referred the PA news agency to the Department of Health and Social Care, which, when contacted, said it had nothing further to add to Mr Hancock’s comments.

The latest figures available from the National Police Chiefs’ Council show a total of 14,244 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were recorded by forces in England and Wales between March 27 and May 11, for breaches of the Health Protection Regulations.

It is not known how many, if any, fines have been handed to families travelling for childcare purposes.

At a briefing at the end of April, Hampshire Deputy Chief Constable Sara Glen said the “vast majority” had been handed to people out in public spaces without a reasonable excuse who had ignored officers’ instructions.

An NPCC spokesman said on Wednesday: “We have no plans to conduct a review of fines issued for people travelling for childcare.

“As the legislation included accessing childcare as one of the reasonable excuses for leaving home… it is very unlikely that a significant number of fines would have been issued in such circumstances.

“Policing’s approach has been to engage, explain, encourage and only enforce as a last resort, this has been promoted consistently since the introduction of the restrictions.

“If anyone believes they have been issued a fine in error – for any reason – they can challenge it at court.”

The legislation states people can leave their home “to access critical public services, including… childcare or educational facilities (where these are still available to a child in relation to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the child).”

Civil liberties groups and lawyers have been campaigning for a review of all FPNs issued by police during lockdown.

Barrister Kirsty Brimelow QC said: “The Government should set up a review panel to examine all those people who have been issued with fixed penalty notices.

“Many have had similar explanations to those of Mr Cummings. And so it would be fair for them to be set aside.

“The emergency laws are draconian and there has been significant overreach by police and prosecutions in their application to members of the public.

“If standing by Mr Cummings results in a reversal or further amendment of these draconian laws, this will not address the sacrifices that others have already made but it will be a positive constructive reparation.”

Rosalind Comyn, policy and campaigns officer at Liberty, said: “Such broad police powers and vague Government guidance were a recipe for discrimination and injustice, which is why Liberty along with many other groups have been consistently calling for a review.

“It’s now clear how unevenly the powers have been applied – particularly when, as recent events show, they don’t apply to the very people who wrote them.

“The Government urgently needs to pare back the powers, create a right to appeal and review every fine issued.”

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Categories: Brighton Vicar, Lockdown, Mr Poole, News, Robert Jenrick

Gardai coughed or spat at 80 times since Covid-19 restrictions introduced

Gardai have been spat or coughed at 80 times since Covid-19 travel restrictions were introduced on April 8.

New figures from April 8 to May 23 show gardai used anti-spit guards 60 times.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris condemned the attacks on members of the force.

“These disgraceful spitting and coughing attacks on Gardai while simply carrying out their lawful duties remains a serious concern for the organisation. These are a significant health and safety risk to our members in the current environment. We must protect them from such attacks.”

“This includes having the option of using anti-spit guards in very limited circumstances. We have made it clear these anti-spit guards are only to be used as last resort and in line with the Garda decision making model, which includes at its centre human rights and our code of ethics.”

Mr Harris said anti-spit guards provide an additional tactical option to be considered and are typically used as a last resort.

He said the Garda policy around the use of anti-spit guards will be reviewed in September.

The latest figures also show regulations brought in as part of the lockdown have been enforced 263 times.

These include both arrests and incidents without arrest where name and address details were taken for consultation with the Director of Public Prosecution on the decision to issue charges.

Of the 263 incidents, two were as a result of an instruction from a relevant medical professional.

Sixty-six incidents lead to a charge or summons being issued while the rest are still under investigation.

The force said that gardai have interacted with tens of thousands of people while on patrol or at checkpoints and the vast majority were adhering to the public health guidelines.

In addition, pre-existing enforcement powers were used in 1,752 incidents where other offences were disclosed in the course of Covid-19 operations.

These range from incidents such as drink-driving or disqualified drivers detected at checkpoints, to drugs and weapons seizures, to public order offences.

The number of incidents involving other suspected crimes continues to far exceed the number of cases involving only breaches of Government restrictions.

Mr Harris said there continues to be very good co-operation by the public with An Garda Siochana.

“It is vital that we all keep on playing our part in reducing the spreading of Covid-19 by adhering to the updated public health guidelines.”

“Our priority over the coming weeks will be to ensure this primarily through community engagement at key locations such as parks, beaches and natural beauty spots.

“We also remind people, particularly coming up to the bank holiday weekend, about not travelling to holiday homes or making non-essential journeys.”

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Categories: COVID-19, Gardai, News, Northern Ireland Police, Spitting

Police examining reports of bishop threatened online over Cummings comments

Police are looking into reports a bishop was threatened online after speaking out on Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings’s alleged breach of lockdown rules.

Helen-Ann Hartley, the Bishop of Ripon, reported the matter to North Yorkshire Police as some of the Church of England’s most senior figures reported receiving hate mail and death threats.

Bishop Hartley posted: “‘Stay out of politics or it will be the death of you’ was one of the emails I received today. Thank you to those who have sent supportive messages.”

She had earlier written about missing her father’s birthday during the lockdown as he recovered from radiotherapy.

Bishop Hartley said she was “following up” the hate email with police.

On Tuesday, North Yorkshire Police said in a statement: “A complaint has been made to North Yorkshire Police and inquiries are ongoing into the matter.”

Bishop of Worcester John Inge tweeted that he received an email, warning “stay out of politics or we’ll kill you” after he criticised Boris Johnson’s “risible defence” of Mr Cummings on Sunday night.

Christine Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle, wrote: “I too received such an email. I feel concern for the person who sent it and will hold him or her in prayer.”

The previous night she had posted that she was “deeply troubled” by the Prime Minister’s defence of his adviser.

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Categories: Bishop Hartley, Dominic Cummings, News, North Yorkshire Police, Threatened

Cummings criticism sees Church of England bishops receive death threats

Some of the Church of England’s most senior bishops have reported receiving hate mail and death threats after speaking out on Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings’ alleged breach of lockdown rules.

Bishop of Worcester John Inge tweeted that he received an email warning “stay out of politics or we’ll kill you” after he criticised Boris Johnson’s “risible defence” of Mr Cummings on Sunday night.

Helen-Ann Hartley, the bishop of Ripon, reported a similar threat, posting: “‘Stay out of politics or it will be the death of you’ was one of the emails I received today. Thank you to those who have sent supportive messages.”

She had earlier written about missing her father’s birthday during the lockdown as he recovered from radiotherapy.

Rev Hartley said she was “following up” the hate email with police.

Christine Hardman, bishop of Newcastle, wrote: “I too received such an email. I feel concern for the person who sent it and will hold him or her in prayer.”

The previous night she had posted that she was “deeply troubled” by the Prime Minister’s defence of his adviser.

“We can forgive mistakes and poor judgement and can understand and admire loyalty but forgiveness and understanding need openness and we did not see this tonight,” she wrote.

Paul Bayes, the bishop of Liverpool, added that he had also received abuse, writing: “Public life in Britain today. Many of us have received this sort of message. It doesn’t work.”

The bishops were among a number of Church of England representatives who had condemned the PM for standing by his adviser over a trip from London to County Durham during the national lockdown.

Paul Butler, the bishop of Durham, tweeted: “There will be those in Durham who defend #Boris for his standing by #DominicCummngs.

“But most who have worked so hard to abide by the rules and guidance of the past weeks will feel hurt, angry, & let down. Trust has been broken. For the nation’s sake rebuild it quickly.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has not commented publicly on Mr Cummings’ case, but recently warned the Government that cuts to public spending after the coronavirus outbreak would be “catastrophic”.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Welby had said “going for austerity again would be the most terrible mistake”.

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Categories: Bishops, Church of England, Cummings, Dominic Cummings, Downing Street, News