Could a sense of reality be setting in?
An update to this story. “Plans dropped for Muslim panels to vet intelligence,” from the Daily Mail (thanks to Twostellas):
Plans for panels of Muslim community leaders to scrutinise intelligence in advance of anti-terror raids have been shelved, it was revealed today.
The idea – put forward by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair last September – has been effectively dropped following “protracted” negotiations with other forces and the security services.
The move was designed to avoid repeating the damage done to community relations by the botched raid in Forest Gate, east London, last summer.
However, it sparked fears that the success of crucial operations could be jeopardised and informants may be discouraged from coming forward.
Under the original proposals, around four prominent figures from communities were to be allowed to assess intelligence in advance. They would have been security vetted, but not made to sign the Official Secrets Act.