Inspector Tom Galbraith, of Lothian and Borders Police’s diversity unit, says that “you have to consider cases according to need. The idea of treating people all the same is a bit naive and we have to remember that there are vulnerable individuals who can be put on the path of radicalism.”

Scottish forces ordered to give priority to crimes against Muslims by Dean Herbert

Police in Scotland have been ordered to give special priority to crimes where
the victims are Muslim.

In a move that last night sparked a fresh row over political correctness, a
senior officer revealed that the race and religion of a victim has now become a
crucial factor in how police respond to crime.

Inspector Tom Galbraith, of Lothian and Borders Police’s diversity unit, told
a conference on tackling terrorism that it was important to stop Scottish
Muslims feeling “vulnerable” in case they were driven towards radicalism.

Mr. Galbraith said the force encouraged officers to consider the religious or
ethnic backgrounds of victims to assess their needs in dealing with hate
crimes.

He said that both an attack and a perceived lack of action by police could
turn Islamic youths into future terrorists.

Mr. Galbraith also revealed that police officers, Special Branch and BAA
security staff were being given special lessons about Islamic culture after
Muslims complained that being questioned when entering the country about whether
they pray and attend mosques was offensive to their faith.

Speaking at a national security conference in Edinburgh on Thursday, Mr.
Galbraith said, “It is not about treating everybody the same.

If I have a young Asian man who has been subjected to a hate crime, I would
rather put more resources into that than if it had happened to a white male
because the white male is far less likely to end up becoming radicalised.”

He later confirmed that his remarks were in line with Lothian and Borders
Police policy, saying that cases of hate crime were assessed “by need”.

He added: “You have to consider cases according to need.  The idea of
treating people all the same is a bit naive and we have to remember that there
are vulnerable individuals who can be put on the path of radicalism.”

Last night, the police were criticised for being too politically correct in
dealing with hate crimes.

Conservative Justice spokesman Bill Aitken said: “I’m afraid we are now
living in a society in which some people are more equal than others.

[...]

During the conference, Mr. Galbraith also said that police officers and airport
security staff were being given lessons in Islamic culture to avoid offending
arrivals.