How many Muslims are
there in Norfolk then?
Police force issues Muslim detainees
with compasses so they can face Mecca to pray
Daily Mail - Norfolk Police has painted
compasses on
cell ceilings and plans to give Muslim detainees the device so they can
face Mecca when they pray
A police force today announced plans to issue all Muslims it
detains in cells with a compass - so they can face towards Mecca when
praying.
Norfolk Police has decided on the move to ensure arrested
Muslims face towards the holy site and has even painted the ceiling of
some cells to point them in the right direction.
Inspector Colin William, custody Insp for King's Lynn, said
the force had a responsibility to meet the religious needs of everyone
it takes into custody.
He said: 'We have responsibilities to ensure that everyone
detained has their specific needs met whether they are unable to read,
visually impaired or a vulnerable young person.
'Each person taken into custody is asked if they have any
particular religious or dietary requirements.
'We will also have the compasses available to Muslims so they
they may know the direction of Mecca.
'Wherever possible, custody staff facilitate any reasonable
request in respect of religious considerations.'
The announcement comes after a successful trial at Bethel
Street police station in Norwich, where compasses were painted on the
ceilings of cells. The custody suite at King's Lynn station is next in
line to be redecorated.
Norfolk Police Authority suggested the idea in its Custody
Visitors Committee report.
The report states: 'The painted compasses on the ceilings at
Bethel Street will be replicated across the rest of the county.
'However, further guidance has been received and in future
small compasses will be issued to those detainees who request them.'
According to the latest national census in 2002, three per
cent of the UK population - 1.6million people - are Muslim (is that in London? - Ed).
