Reporting and opinion by Mathew Carr
May 10, 2024 — As people claim the UK is too permissive for allowing sharia law councils (eg for religious divorce in Muslim communities)…did you know Jewish folk have their own volunteer police service in North West London that resemble Met Police officers?
Shomrim is funded by non mandatory donations from the communities within its operational area.
It’s a volunteer organization called Shomrim that patrols some Jewish neighborhoods in London. Shomrim members are not police officers. They are trained to identify suspicious activity and work with the Met Police, not replace them https://www.charidy.com/shomrim. (Google gemini)
A 2018 report on sharia councils concluded this (among other things) …full report below for download:
“…Those proposing a ban on sharia councils provide no counter proposal or any solution for anyone seeking a religious divorce. It is clear from all the evidence that sharia councils are fulfilling a need in some Muslim communities. There is a demand for religious divorce and this is currently being answered by the sharia councils. This demand will not end if the sharia councils are banned and closed down and could lead to councils going ‘underground’, making it even harder to ensure good practice and the prospect of discriminatory practices and greater financial costs more likely and harder to detect. It could also result in women needing to travel overseas to obtain divorces, putting themselves at further risk.“
I could not find a date for this story from the Jewish Chronicle [but it must be at least six years old because Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe …or … Baron Hogan-Howe, QPM (born 25 October 1957) is an English former police officer and was the head of London’s Metropolitan Police as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 2011 until 2017]:
Shomrim rejects police chief’s claims over cars and uniforms
The security group Shomrim has rejected the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s view that its volunteers should not drive marked cars or wear uniforms similar to those of the police.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said earlier this month that he would prefer it if Shomrim guards did not resemble his officers.
But Gary Ost, chief executive of the Shomrim Community Patrol in Golders Green, north-west London, rejected Sir Bernard’s suggestion he was in discussion with the Jewish group over the matter.
Mr Ost said: “The commissioner has not made any contact and no discussions have been brought to our attention to date.
“Our uniforms look nothing like the police and are marked from every angle with clear wording saying ‘Shomrim’.”
In pictures: Shomrim Community Safety Day, Hackney
While praising the group’s work during a speech at the Chief Rabbi’s annual conference a fortnight ago, Sir Bernard had said: “I have to be frank; I would like them not to look like police officers.”
He added: “We are having a discussion about that and I’m sure we will get to a positive resolution.”
Mr Ost said the markings on Shomrim’s patrol vehicles complied with legislation.
“Many private security companies across the UK choose to use these legal markings on their company vehicles to deter burglars,” he said.
He challenged the Commissioner to “come and see the vehicle and how Shomrim operates for himself”.
Mr Ost said the closure of Golders Green Police Station in 2013 had reduced the presence of police cars and officers in the area.
He said: “Our vehicle may look similar to the look of a police vehicle, but we believe that as it drives around during the day and night it acts as an active deterrent to those who may wish to commit crime.”
At an event hosted by the Stamford Hill branch of Shomrim on Monday, a spokesman said: “We don’t drive marked cars like they do in Golders Green, but our uniform is clearly different from the police. I don’t think it confuses people.”
Thousands turned out for the special “community safety day” on Clapton Common, organised by the group and attended by senior officers from Scotland Yard.
Police showed off riot gear, radios and bomb-disposal equipment, alongside Shomrim and colleagues from London ambulance and fire brigade teams.
CarrZee: I agree a volunteer security outfit should not resemble the actual police. That’s confusing.