| News
& Community Local news- November E: [email protected] |
| Tower
Hamlets council steps in to stem the sale of 'haram' meat - 15/11/01 |
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Tower Hamlets Food Safety Team has launched a campaign
to halt the sale of bogus halal meat in the borough. The campaign
aims to promote awareness amongst Muslim butchers and consumers
to buy halal meat only from approved suppliers. The council has
produced a series of posters and leaflets helping Muslim butchers
and consumers tell the difference between halal and haram meat.
This campaign is being launched in response to the
recent publicity of unfit meat seizures by Environmental Health
Officers in London and increasing reports of non-halal meat being
passed off illegally as halal. Muslim sermons will also be reinforcing
the message to consumers to help spot unfit meat. Rick Mason, Team
Leader of the Food Safety Team says, "The main problem is that sometimes
it is difficult to establish whether the meat is sold as halal or
haram.
Butchers must be vigilant and carry out checks with
their suppliers to ensure that the meat has come from an approved
halal slaughterhouse. If they are offered cheaper meat from an unknown
supplier or have concerns about an existing supplier, it is advised
that they contact the Food Standards Agency or the slaughterhouse
directly." A list of all slaughterhouses in the UK can be obtained
from the Food Standards Agency website on www.foodstandards.gov.uk.
If you would like a like a leaflet or poster, please
visit the Council Offices at Southern Grove, Mile End or telephone
020 73646800. Alternatively copies of the leaflets can be obtained
from Mr. Boga Tel: 020 77243363 who is advisor to the Director General
of the Regent's Park mosque.
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| Grave
worries as borough waits for burial openings - 13/11/01 |
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Over 50,000 people die in London each year - approximately
10,000 choose to be buried. In a bid to address London's shortage
of burial spaces, London Assembly Members met with representatives
from a wide range of faith groups on 12th November. By 2008 most
of central London will have run out of space for new graves. No
space now exists for residents of Tower Hamlets.
Trevor Phillips, Deputy Chair of the London Assembly,
said: 'We are nearly at crisis point and must provide for future
generations. The London Assembly will continue to take the lead
on this important issue for Londoners. We are working with faith
groups, the Mayor, London Boroughs, the Home Office and the NHS
to resolve the problems we have identified.'
London based representatives of Muslim, Jewish,
Christian, Zoroastrian, Buddhist and Hindu faith groups attended
the Assembly's meeting. As a result of that meeting, the Assembly
has resolved to:
· Lobby the Mayor to ensure that his Spatial Development Strategy
provides for additional burial spaces in London
· Work with London Boroughs to ensure that cemeteries and crematoria
provide the facilities different faith groups require - for example
Hindus require crematoria to provide them with a larger floor space
and more time to complete their rituals
· Contact the London Region of the NHS to make sure London hospitals
are aware of faith groups' needs in the immediate aftermath of death
· Respond to the Home Office's recently announced consultation on
cemeteries.
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| Tower
Hamlets firemen on red alert as attacks increase - 12/11/01 |
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Fire-fighters in Tower Hamlets have increased security
measures after coming under attack for the second time this month.
From now on all calls to Burdett Estate in Limehouse will be attended
by two fire engines - reducing the fire cover available for Poplar
station's area, which includes Canary Wharf.
Under London Fire Brigade operating procedure, minor
incidents such as rubbish fires, car fires and people stuck in lifts
should require only one fire engine in attendance, leaving the other
available in the station. But the fire-fighters have been forced
to adopt extreme measures to protect themselves after repeated attacks
on them in the Limehouse area.
Last week they were called to a small rubbish fire
on the Burdett Estate, Limehouse. One fire engine carrying a four
man crew raced to the scene, but on arrival the fire-fighters were
set on by a gang throwing stones at them. The gang was not caught.
This assault came just two weeks after both crews from Poplar fire
station narrowly escaped an ambush in the same area.
On October 13 a fire was reported in a big rubbish
skip in a factory in Limehouse. On arrival they were surrounded
by a gang of Asian youths who taunted the crews about terrorism
and the plight of the New York fire-fighters. "This made my guys
very angry," said station officer Steve Dudeney. "At Poplar we have
close links with the New York Fire Department and a number of us
lost friends and colleagues in the September 11 attacks.
"We had only returned from New York the week before,
and the memories were still pretty fresh for us." While some of
the youths were hurling abuse, a couple of the Poplar fire-fighters
noticed others trying to get into an alley adjacent to the fire,
and chased them away. When the area was searched afterwards a crate
of petrol bombs was found near to where the gang was heading.
"It is pure luck we were intuitive enough to realise
all was not right," said Dudeney. "If they'd got to the petrol bombs
before us God knows what my crews would have faced." Following the
second attack senior London Fire Brigade officers agreed special
measures to protect the Poplar fire-fighters - which will reduce
fire cover in the area. "My crew safety is of paramount importance
- I cannot allow them to be injured," explained Dudeney. "
The people of Tower Hamlets along with the rest
of London have an outstanding fire service. I will not allow this
to be compromised." Divisional officer Nigel Hall is now looking
into the problems for Poplar fire station, and police and community
leaders will be meeting with the fire-fighters to discuss future
policy.
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| Clamp
down on crime in Tower Hamlets - 09/11/01 |
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More than 200 people involved in street robbery,
burglary, drugs, prostitution and car crime have been taken into
custody, following a new initiative by Tower Hamlets police. Operation
Sabre forms part of a Met-wide project Operation Strongbox, which
provides boroughs with more funds to tackle certain types of crime
on a borough-by-borough basis.
Meanwhile, to help Tower Hamlets police, dogs trained
to sniff out drugs are to be used on the Tube in east London as
part of a police initiative targeting offenders. Trained handlers
take the dogs on to a Tube train and if the dog smells drugs on
a commuter he will sit next to the suspect and even be able to detect
where the drugs are hidden. Police say a number of other crimes
have come to light including handling of stolen goods and fare evasion.
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| Tower
Hamlets Asian gang attack firemen with rockets - 07/11/01 |
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Stepney firemen were ambushed by a gang of 40 Asian
youths who attacked them with a barrage of fireworks, bricks and
iron bars as they tried to tackle a bonfire in the area. As this
was occurring, burglars stole cash and mobile phones from the fire
station. The two incidents are being linked.
All six members of Shadwell's Green Watch were injured
in the attack which senior officers today branded "abhorrent". They
were responding to a 999 call about an unattended bonfire near flats
in Stepney Way, Stepney. A fire service spokesman said: " Fireworks
were aimed at the crew. The gang began brandishing iron bars and
the crew's leading firefighter was struck across his arm. As the
men retreated, they were pelted with bricks." One firefighter was
taken to hospital with bruising to his head.
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| Mayor
and assembly back Islamic Awareness Week - 06/11/01 |
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The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone and Deputy Chair
of the London Assembly Trevor Phillips have joined other senior
politicians in backing the Islamic Society of Britain's Islam Awareness
Week. They have signed a pledge to demonstrate commitment to improving
relations between different communities, and enhancing mutual tolerance
and understanding.
The Mayor said:'London is proud of its diversity,
and times of international tension demand that we stand together
to resist the attempts of racists who are trying to use the current
situation to spread fear and intolerance. I urge other key organisations
to support Islam Awareness Week, and the pledge to British Muslims.
Trevor Philips, added: 'The events of September
11 created the potential for deep divisions in our communities.
But a better understanding of Islam and of Muslims will show that
the differences are nowhere near as great as some would like to
suggest. Islam Awareness Week is an extremely welcome event, in
which I hope everyone who can will play a part.'
Ken Livingstone last week wrote to London's headteachers
to support their efforts in handling fears of bullying faced by
Muslim and other Asian school children. He has also met Muslim Community
leaders to discuss practical measures to combat racist attacks on
Muslim and other Asian Londoners.
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