Police force issues Muslim detainees with compasses

**Bukit_Basha** · 01-07-2009, 08:41

Police force issues Muslim detainees with compasses so they can face Mecca to pray.

Norfolk Police is offering compasses to suspects so they can face accurately towards Mecca when praying.

The force had already painted the ceilings of some of its cells to point worshippers in the right direction.

FFS is there no end to this nonsense

**browny31310** · 01-07-2009, 08:48

What next? Picks and Shovels or just the keys?

P.S. How about a link to the original article , please?

**Magdovus** · 01-07-2009, 08:48

I agree, we shouldn't be giving people compasses- imagine the damage they could do with the sharp pointy bit.

On the other hand, painting an arrow into the ceiling is a good, common sense measure to address this.

I don't think it should be a big deal really. Our best weapon against religious fanatics is to show tolerance to mainstream religion.

**Mr_Deputy** · 01-07-2009, 08:52

Why compasses? its not like Mecca moves is it? You just have to say 'that way' and leave it at that and to their own intelligence.
Sounds like thye are trying it on if you ask me. "Got to go to prayers boss."

Mind you I was pootling along an A road in Kent 2 years back and saw two guys stopped (one dangerously close to road/verge) for prayers about a mile apart. They were both facing in different directions.

(edited to add which was pretty avoidable seeing as it was close to sunset - which could have given them a clue. Like I say...down to personal intelligence.)

**western** · 01-07-2009, 08:53

Have any of Norfolk's finest visited a muslim country and found out how the local plod deal with this?

**tattybadger** · 01-07-2009, 08:55

A compass is feck all use if you don't know where Mecca is in relationship to where you are!!

**old_fat_and_hairy** · 01-07-2009, 08:59

Originally Posted by tattybadger

A compass is feck all use if you don't know where Mecca is in relationship to where you are!!

I know there used to be a Mecca in Norwich, but that was an awful long time ago, and the one in Cambridge closed recently. Anyway, why would detainees, especially Muslim, want to play bingo?

**CC_TA** · 01-07-2009, 08:59

Outrage bus go!

What's the problem? Everyone has a right to practice religion - remember these are detainees: not convicted criminals.

If this was the NAAFI I would mention something about issuing magnets to the custody Sgt to see how many different directions he could get prisoners pointing in. (But it's not - so I won't.)

**CC_TA** · 01-07-2009, 09:04

Originally Posted by tattybadger

A compass is feck all use if you don't know where Mecca is in relationship to where you are!!

Is that right? :P

**western** · 01-07-2009, 09:04

Originally Posted by CC_TA

Outrage bus go!

What's the problem? Everyone has a right to practice religion - remember these are detainees: not convicted criminals.

If this was the NAAFI I would mention something about issuing magnets to the custody Sgt to see how many different directions he could get prisoners pointing in. (But it's not - so I won't.)

And you are quite right, but where are the special concessions for Christians and others? As others have pointed out a sodding arrow on the floor is enough. FFS man why does everyone in this PC world think that Muslims are all pious religious folk rather than the normal mix of humanity?

**tattybadger** · 01-07-2009, 09:10

Originally Posted by CC_TA

Originally Posted by tattybadger

A compass is feck all use if you don't know where Mecca is in relationship to where you are!!

Is that right? :P

Superb - how does that work then, if you're in Pentonville nick?

Occurs to me that the iron bars across the windows might hinder prayer heading in the correct direction too!!

**tattybadger** · 01-07-2009, 09:13

And who has not peeled off the mecca arrow in hotels and changed its direction?

**CC_TA** · 01-07-2009, 09:15

Originally Posted by western

Originally Posted by CC_TA

Outrage bus go!

What's the problem? Everyone has a right to practice religion - remember these are detainees: not convicted criminals.

If this was the NAAFI I would mention something about issuing magnets to the custody Sgt to see how many different directions he could get prisoners pointing in. (But it's not - so I won't.)

And you are quite right, but where are the special concessions for Christians and others? As others have pointed out a sodding arrow on the floor is enough. FFS man why does everyone in this PC world think that Muslims are all pious religious folk rather than the normal mix of humanity?

I'm agnostic so I have a giggle at most religions are a bit daft. As for concessions for Christians and other religions - the vast majority of people in custody are treated very well. It is very hard to be mistreated when the custody staff go through their process by the book. (I must add that I have regular 1st hand knowledge of this but I do not work in a police custody role.)

**Ancient_Mariner** · 01-07-2009, 09:15

Originally Posted by Mr_Deputy

Mind you I was pootling along an A road in Kent 2 years back and saw two guys stopped (one dangerously close to road/verge) for prayers about a mile apart. They were both facing in different directions.

I think there's a difference of opinion among muslims about which direction they point in.

Some argue that you should draw a straight line on a map between where you are and where the kabbah (sp?) is. Hence they point south east.

Astute, muslim navigators go for the shortest path, the great circle route to Mecca so they point north east.

It's all a load of rubbish anyway. Muslims who don't know the way to Mecca can just guess. You can't really point at anything except outer space if you're kneeling on the surface of a sphere anyway.