Top cop backs Sun over veils

BRITAIN’S top cop yesterday backed The Sun’s call for action over the security threat posed by Muslim veils.
Sir Ian Blair said airline passengers must remove headdress covering the face.
The demand came after a suspect in the WPC Sharon Beshenivsky murder case slipped out of Heathrow wearing a niqab, which has just a slit for eyes. Hard-pressed staff only carry out random passport checks. Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian said: "I do not really understand how we can continue to do that. We must find methods of allowing people to take off the veil in a way that’s entirely dignified."
His comments put extra pressure on Home Secretary John Reid to insist all veils are removed for passport checks.
Our campaign was launched on Thursday and immediately drew support from MPs who want an inquiry into how murder suspect Mustaf Jama, 26, fled disguised as a Muslim woman with a stolen passport.
Home Office rules say the eyes, nose and mouth must be visible in passports and that veils can be lifted for checks. But we want checks to be compulsory, with veils lifted in a private area.
The Commissioner called on the Government to "get greater control" of the country’s borders — and deport foreign crooks freed from jail.
Sir Ian also backed The Sun’s campaign for police red tape to be slashed.
He wants the Government to scrap laws that require officers to file unused investigation material for court cases.
He said: "Officers are overwhelmed with paperwork because they have to disclose unused material to the defence. That’s fine in cases of murder, rape and terrorism.
"But it’s ridiculous in simple cases and we just need to pull all that back so I can have my cops back on the street."
Sir Ian claimed the terror threat facing Britain is "far graver" than the Second World War. The danger from al-Qaeda is of an "unparalleled nature — and growing", he said. But he added that police had "no specific intelligence" about a Christmas plot.