Police right to be critical of plans to shut down mosques- Liz Lynne

6.03.44pm GMT Thu 1st Dec 2005

Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands, responding to

criticism by senior Police officers of plans to allow the shutting down of

places of worship suspected of inciting extremism, said:

"This measure will create bad will among the very people we need to help

root out potential terrorists.

"If the police have evidence that individual worshippers are breaking the

law, they should arrest them. If they are unsure who to arrest, they

should use surveillance to gather the necessary evidence.

"Forcing religious leaders to silence extremist voices will simply force

those voices underground."

ENDS.