4 I LOCAL & NATIONAL NEWS Passion Islam I November 2009
CIA at work in UK
Anti - Terror Chief tells MPs
an additional risk that, for entirely “outside organisations” were working
legitimate reasons, people can get in Britain, Farr replied: “Most certainly,
converted in prison to Islam. We are yes. Are they declared? Yes. They are
very aware of the risks,” he said. in regular dialogue with our agencies
On the issue of Islamist here. The cornerstone of this is the
radicalisation in prison, he revealed American relationship.
his unit had to help a cash-strapped “Why? For two reasons, I think,
prison service find enough money above all: because of the huge
to develop a counter-terrorist American capability that can be
programme, including the creation of brought to bear on counter-terrorism,
an intelligence infrastructure. and has been since 9/11.
Details have emerged of a private
That unit, he said, had made “Secondly … because people
briefing between the government’s
some inroads in tackling extremism in who pose a threat to this country
most senior counter-terrorism official
prisons. “It is not yet a success story are six hours away from the eastern
and MPs in which he warned of the
but it is a story of real progress,” he seaboard, something which the
dangers of radicalisation among
said, and added: “When they get back Americans are acutely aware of, as
Muslim prisoners and admitted that
into the community what are we going are we, and therefore take a very
CIA agents were operating in the UK.
to do about that?” close interest in.”
Charles Farr, the head of the
During the in camera evidence Farr, who rarely appears publicly
Home Office’s office of security and
session to a sub-committee of also said the Home Office’s research,
counter-terrorism, told MPs the 8,000
the Commons home affairs select communications and information unit,
Muslim inmates in England and
committee, Farr also confirmed there which advises on the nature of the
Wales represented “a very significant
were CIA agents operating in Britain terror threat, only has a staff of 35 from
group”.
and that Britain had a “very close” across government to challenge the
“We know that once they get
relationship with the US intelligence output of 4,500 “incessant” Islamist
inside prison there is a danger that
community. terrorist websites around the world.
they will be radicalised … there is
Asked if CIA agents and other www.passionislam.com
Fake CV tests shows
employer racism
People with African and Asian names Applications were sent for 987
face discrimination by employers when vacancies between November 2008
they apply for jobs, according to a study and May 2009.
published. The jobs including accountants, IT
Thousands of fake CVs were sent staff, care workers and sales assistants,
to companies across the country were based in Birmingham, Bradford,
by researchers using three different Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, London and
identities to discover how jobseekers Manchester.
with different names were treated. The report found there was
The three fake identities - Nazia no plausible explanation for the
Mahmood, Mariam Namagembe and difference in treatment other than racial in DWP contracts with suppliers.
Alison Taylor - were given similar discrimination. Employees can use the Race Relations
experience and qualifications. Employment minister Jim Knight Act to take employers to a tribunal if
Researchers from the National Centre said: “This research clearly shows that they are being treated unfairly and they
for Social Research, commissioned by some employers are discriminating will also get support and advice from the
the Department for work and Pension when it comes to choosing staff. This European Human Rights Commission
(DWP), found the applicant who has no place in a modern society and to do so.
appeared to be white had to send nine racial discrimination cannot be allowed ”We are determined to stop this
applications before being offered an to continue. scourge on society - the Equality Bill
interview. ”We introduced laws to stop will strengthen our hand and we are
The other candidates had to send 16 discrimination at work and strengthened already preparing to publish specific
applications before receiving a similar them in 2000. We also introduced new plans for dealing with discrimination in
response. diversity and equality requirements the workplace later this year.”
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