Workstreams

In 2020 NAMP conducted the first every NAMP survey across all Muslim members. The findings from this survey helped to identify three priority areas: Anti-Muslim Hatred, Counter Terrorism Terminology and the Prevent Programme and Muslim Representation in policing. Alongside these priorities NAMP have been working on several initiatives to increase Muslim inclusivity within the workplace.

Inclusivity in the workplace

NAMP are continuously working to make the police service a more inclusive environment for Muslims.

There are many Muslim networks in different police forces, supporting the needs of Muslim personnel. Below are some examples of the different initiatives we have delivered nationally and locally.

Prayer & ablution provisions

There are five prayers which are observed by Muslims on a daily basis. These prayers are an integral part of the Islamic faith and inevitably coincide with a working day. This is why it is important to have prayer and ablution facilities within the workplace, as it allows Muslims to perform daily prayers in line with Islamic practices. NAMP have worked with the College of Policing to develop prayer provisions guidance for police forces.

Click here for: NAMP Guidance for Prayer Provisions

Ramadan provisions

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and has a duration of 29-30 days. This holy month is based on the lunar calendar and is a period when Muslims will fast, refraining from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset. This time fasting varies in accordance with daylight hours, therefore in summer months fasts can be as long as 20 hours. The act of fasting can have an impact on sleeping patterns and with this being a holy month a lot of time is dedicated to prayer. Workplace adjustments are encouraged to accommodate the needs of Muslims.

NAMP have worked with the College of Policing to develop Ramadan guidance for police forces.

Click here for: NAMP Guidance for Ramadan Provisions

Halal food provisions

Halal is an Arabic word which translates to mean "permissible" in English. This term has many uses but is often used to refer to Muslim dietary requirements. This mainly concerns different types of meat, food preparation and drink. This is particularly relevant for any events, courses or operational duties where food will be provided to Muslim officers or staff. NAMP are currently working on guidance in relation to these requirements, however there are some basic tips can can be considered to meet the needs of Muslims:

Always ask if anyone has any specific dietary requirements.
Display the Halal Certification symbol or labels where possible.
Provide vegetarian/vegan dishes as an option.
Read food labels carefully and regularly when purchasing or preparing food.

Uniform to meet religious needs

Hijab is a principle in Islam that refers to modesty. It is usually associated with the religious headscarf worn by Muslim women, however it can also apply generally to clothing worn by men as well as women. NAMP have been working on this uniform project to help meet the religious needs of our members. Several headscarf options are now available along with modesty tunics.

Other inclusive considerations

In addition to the above, NAMP have been working on several other initiatives to create a more inclusive environment for Muslims such as:

Mentoring and coaching for members.
Islamic awareness training.
#iaw2022 - Islam awareness week.
#iammuslim campaign.
Muslim association flags flown at police stations.
Faith inclusive policies in police forces.

Anti-Muslim Hatred

NAMP Anti-Muslim Hatred & Discrimination Guidance

Anti-Muslim hatred and discrimination guidance has been released by NAMP to help support the police service in tackling Islamophobia. To read the full guidance please click here.

Islamophobia in the UK

Islamophobia has become increasingly prevalent over the past couple of decades. From 2017 to 2022, Home Office statistics for police-recorded crime data in England and Wales have shown on a yearly basis that Muslims, or those perceived as Muslims, make up the highest percentage of religious hate crime. In 2021/22, this was 42% of all religious hate crimes

A survey conducted by NAMP in 2020 found that during that year, 22% of NAMP members had experienced Islamophobia within the police service and 46% of the Muslim community had experienced Islamophobia externally.

In 2022, the University of Birmingham conducted a survey in relation to Islamophobia, which found that ‘Muslims are the UK’s second least liked group’. The study also found that the British public are almost three times more likely to hold prejudiced views of Islam than they are of other religions, and they are also more confident in making judgements and incorrect assumptions about Islam than they are for other non-Christian faiths.

‘Prejudice towards Islam and Muslims stands out in the UK, not only because it is much more widespread than most forms of racism, but also because prejudice toward Islam is more common among those who are wealthier and well-educated.’

Dr Stephen H. Jones

Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religion, University of Birmingham

Top Priority

Due to the prevalence of Islamophobia, tackling Anti-Muslim hatred has become a top priority for NAMP. We are now in the process of producing a guidance document in conjunction with the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs Council. This will provide practical guidance to recognise and deal with Anti-Muslim hate crimes and hate incidents, discrimination within the workplace, micro-aggressions and biases.

Definition for Anti-Muslim Hatred

Below is the definition used by NAMP to classify Anti-Muslim hatred.

"Anti-Muslim hatred encompasses a range of negative perceptions and attitudes towards Muslims. This may be expressed as a prejudice against and/or hatred towards Muslims, taking the form of rhetorical, physical or discriminatory behaviour. It may be directed towards Muslim or non-Muslim individuals, the wider Muslim community and/or Muslim property."

Reporting Anti-Muslim Discrimination

If police officers and staff experience anti-Muslim discrimination within the police service, they should report this via their Professional Standards department.

Reporting Anti-Muslim Hatred
If someone is a victim of anti-Muslim hatred, they have several options for reporting a crime or incident:

call 999 in an emergency.
if you're deaf or hard of hearing, you can use textphone service 18000 or text 999 if pre-registered with the emergency SMS service.
call 101 for non-emergencies.
call in person at any police station.
some police forces have online reporting forms or live chat.
independent third-party reporting centres within the community.
online via Religious hate crime - True Vision.
online via other services.

Ensure that as much detail about the incident or crime is provided, including date, time, location, witnesses and any other pertinent information.

Prevent & Counter Terrorism Terminology

NAMP Press Release Nov 2022

NAMP Proposal for changes to CT Terminology

NAMP survey findings

The 2020 NAMP survey found that the vast majority of respondents felt that Muslims are disproportionally targeted by Prevent. There were concerns raised regarding the under-representation of Muslims in Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) and a lack of understanding about Muslim practices and Islam by those within Prevent. Many respondents felt Prevent in its current form does not effectively tackle radicalisation and that more could be done to engage with grassroot Muslim communities.

One of the main issues highlighted was in relation to Counter Terrorism (CT) terminology (use of words such as "Islamist" or "Islamism"). The survey showed that 85% of Muslim police respondents and 92% of Muslim community respondents believed that the use of CT terminology has a direct link to Islamophobic sentiment, both within the police service as well as in our communities. Consequently, this creates negative biases towards Muslims, leaving them feeling more vulnerable and at higher risk of hate crime and discrimination.

CT terminology

NAMP recognised the risk and upset that these terms cause and have tried to influence a change in terminology. In 2019 NAMP made a submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee Islamophobia inquiry. This was the first time NAMP publicly voiced concerns with regards to CT terminology. Since then, NAMP have continued to raise awareness of this issue through various forums, most notably CTP the National Police Chiefs' Council and Home Office. Further submissions of evidence have also been made to the Independent Review of Prevent and most recently the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice (biicl.org)

Islamic awareness training

NAMP have recognised the importance of upskilling the police service and to equip them with the right skills to engage with the Muslim community. NAMP have various training packages which are delivered by trained Muslim officers and staff, who not only understand the needs of the Muslim community but also the requirements within policing. This training clarifies believes and practices, dispels myths, addresses common misconceptions and concerns and looks at things from an operational perspective. This has proved to be extremely successful and is currently delivered in several police forces nationally.

For further details please refer to:

NAMPs Proposed Changes to Counter Terrorism Terminology

Muslim Representation in Policing

Concerns of Islamophobia

In 2020 NAMP surveyed members of the Muslim community and Muslims within policing. The common theme from both groups was concerns about Islamophobia and Racism, perceived or otherwise. These issues seem to be deeply embedded within the police service and unfortunately causes significant barriers for attraction and retention. Although there are some efforts being made in several police forces to address these problems, there needs to be a collective approach to deal with the issue holistically and from a national perspective.

Attraction & Retention issues

There are many campaigns nationally to recruit more people from underrepresented groups into the police service, yet despite this, many Muslims still leave the police due to various issues they experience once they start in the role. This creates a negative cycle as Muslims in the community will hear negative accounts from Muslims within policing, which in turn discourages many from applying. To increase attraction rates and improve retention, a solid structure is required within the police service that supports the needs of Muslims.

The needs of Muslims within policing

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory explains the five basic needs that motivate people. By using the premise of this model, we can see how this fits in with the needs of Muslims and what structure should be used. In many polices forces Physiological and Esteem needs are being met. However, there is a tendency to neglect Safety and Belonging needs. This can leave Muslims officers and staff feeling vulnerable, unwelcome, not part of a team.

What are NAMP doing?

NAMP are working with the National Police Chiefs' Council, College of Policing. and local police forces to deliver recommendations from the NAMP survey. These recommendations aim to create a more inclusive environment for Muslims. For more information about the recommendations, please click on the NAMP 2020 Survey.

Joining the Police Service

Despite the challenges we face, working within the police service can be an exciting and extremely rewarding career. We need more Muslims within policing to make a positive difference. If you are interested in joining the police service, please visit: www.joiningthepolice.co.uk

No representation in your area?
Join us today!

NAMP are always keen to work with Police forces to establish local Muslim networks. If your area is not listed and you are interested in affiliating with NAMP, please get in touch to set up an association within your organisation.

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Workstreams

No representation in your area? Join us today!

No representation in your area?
Join us today!