Police ask youths if they have been 'approached by Islam'
Police in NSW have come under fire for asking youths in western Sydney if they have been approached by anyone "in relation to Islam and stuff".
The mobile phone footage, which has reportedly been distributed online by radical Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, shows a pair of plain-clothed police officers talking to a group of youths in Bankstown.
"Obviously we're from Bankstown police," one officer says, after asking the group to stop recording them.
"The reason why we're walking around Bankstown today is to speak to the young blokes in Bankstown and see if they're being approached by anyone in relation to Islam and stuff like that."
Plain-clothes police officers are currently targeting areas in western Sydney, like Bankstown, where they believe terrorist recruiters are preying on vulnerable young people, News Corp reports.
"Community engagement is one tool we are using in the fight against radicalisation," a police statement released to News Corp read.
"It is crucial we identify and speak to those people at greatest risk of being targeted by those with extremist views."
However the actions the police officers have been criticsed by members of the Muslim community and left leaders like anti-radicalisation campaigner Jamal Daoud disappointed.
While Mr Daoud is pleased to see police making themselves visible in the community, he told News Corp that their questioning seemed like some kind of joke.
“Why are you asking about Islam? You need to ask about radical Islam or extremism or ISIS…to ask someone about Islam is stupid.”
Liberal Democratic Senator David Leyonhjelm also criticsed the actions of police, saying he did not blame the young people for not co-operating with the officers.
"If I were in their place, I would probably have given them some lip," he said.
He noted that policed needed to work harder to get people on their side and create a culture of respect.
Morning news break – October 17
