Will CPS act in anti-terror case?
POLICE are still to make any arrests a year after anti-terror raids in Stoke-on-Trent.
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INVESTIGATION: Police in Elm Street, Cobridge, during the raids last year.
More than 100 officers, including the West Midlands Counter-Terrorism Unit, executed search warrants at five houses under the Terrorism Act on July 1 last year.
The operation was carried out after reports of extremist Islamic leaflets being distributed in the area.
Police raided addresses in North Street, St Peter's Walk and Elm Street, in Cobridge; Bank Hall Road, Smallthorne, and Wilkes Street, Tunstall.
They seized more than 350,000 computer files, documents and four vehicles, and files were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in October and April.
But Staffordshire Police are still to make any arrests as they await guidance from the CPS.
Stoke-on-Trent divisional commander Chief Superintendent Bernie O'Reilly, pictured right, today defended last year's raids which he accepted risked damaging relations with the Muslim community. He said: "When the community raised this we had a duty to act, but what we wanted to be at all times was proportionate.
"We have tried to be as measured as we could in responding to the concerns of the community.
"Our view was that we would search properties and cars under the Terrorism Act and see what we got, and then decide whether to make arrests.
"We submitted a file to the CPS in October, a further file was submitted in April and the investigation is still live."
Ch Supt O'Reilly does not believe the high-profile raids inflicted any lasting damage on community relations.
He said: "To search someone's house under the Terrorism Act is very emotive, and to not have arrested or charged anyone 12 months later is quite unique, but it is a very complicated case.
"However, it does not appear to have created any tension in the community."
He added: "Cobridge is such a tolerant community and any initial concerns about the searches have been quickly forgotten."
Security officer Raja Shahzad Ahmad, aged 41, is a frequent worshipper at the Ghausia Mosque, in Waterloo Road, Cobridge, just yards from the scene of the Elm Street raid.
He said: "I think these raids are done for political reasons and they just create more Islamaphobia in the community.
"I know the police were doing their job, but it has just led to more fear in the wider community and it has certainly helped the BNP."
He added: "The vast majority of Muslims just want to live peacefully."
Fellow worshipper Akhtiar Mirza, aged 54, of Shelton, said: "I think there was a bit of tension in the community after the raids, but things have calmed down a lot now. We used to hear about problems with the police, but it has gone very quiet."
Related content:
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Story filed in: Cobridge | News | Staffordshire Police
6 Comments
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by Gertrude Windsor, Trentham
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 9:09PM
“Interesting insight from somebody who lives in that neck of the woods, Saj. I agree with some of your views.
Unfortunately this is not the United States, and there is no freedom of speech here. Freedom of expression, yes, but it does come with limitations relating to national security and public safety. It would be interesting to know what was "extreme" about the leaflets so we (the public) can judge the content for ourselves, and determine whether the investigation was justified.
Perhaps somebody should make a Freedom of Information request of Staffordshire Police if the investigation is closed without any arrests and/or charges.”
by Saj, Burslem
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 8:18PM
“Sorry guys its all about funding, if staffordshire police shout terrorism and raid a few so called suspected terrorist suspects house, they get extra funding by the government.
Theres so much greed that even our own councila and councillors have highlighted and asked for funding to combat terrorism. From the way Stoke on trent council and its councillors, (they know who they are) stoke on trent is the terrorism capital of the uk. Extra funding means extra money in someones pocket.
As for Ch Supt O'Reilly, sorry mate you must live in cuckoo land. These terrorrism raids have and always will have lasting damages in the communities which leads to rising tensions on both sides.
Raiding houses and then not making any arrests does upset communities, as you are targetting one community.
Those lads who were distributing leaflets were doing so under the freedom of speech. if the leaflets were portraying racial hatred or intolerance, then arrest them for that, dont shout terrorism, so you can do what you want.
We as people, (be they of english, pakistani or afrocarribian etc) are scared of our next door neighbours as we dont know who any one is.
Terrorism is defined as putting terror or fear in a peron or persons. I Believe the biggest terrorists are the present government and the police force. They shout terrorism and conduct all these raids but dont arrest any one and then push everything under the carpet so that people forget.”
by Ruby, stoke
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 3:18PM
“and by sharks too Gertrude”
by Gertrude Windsor, Trentham
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 2:48PM
“Ha. Actually Ruby, yes it is. But more people are killed by bees every year than terrorists too.”
by Ruby, stoke
Wednesday, July 01 2009, 2:36PM
“Mick no it isn't the case.”