Assistant Chief Commissioner Garry Shewan
Professional Standards Branch (PSB)
GMP Force HQ
Openshaw Complex
Lawton St, Openshaw
Manchester M11 2NS
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome the efforts and resources invested by Greater Manchester Police in protecting our society and keeping our neighbourhoods safe. As part of this effort, we also welcome your specific efforts in ensuring that the GMP can respond effectively to any terrorist threats.
It is therefore unfortunate that following the execution of an anti-terrorism exercise, media and police attention and resource has been diverted from applauding an otherwise successful exercise, to explaining why terminology was used, which is associated by Muslims with peace and prayer, in this drill. Such use has offended the wider Muslim community and raised existing concerns about the hijacking of such an exercise with the use of this terminology by right wing extremists potentially adding to an increasing Islamophobia within our society.
