I do like a bit of irony… and in the wake of my podcast with Dan Hull of Whataboutclients? only last Saturday where Dan put forward his very strong views that bloggers and those who comment on blogs should identify themselves and not hide behind a cloak of anonymity – there is a certain delicious irony and schadenfreude (for anonymous bloggers?) in finding, only a day later, that our best known blog commenter, the lovely LawMinx, awarded Dan one of her LawMinx blog awards. (I got one as well – and while I usually like to give awards to myself I was very pleased to receive it.)
The news today that Avon and Somerset Police force is issuing its female officers with head coverings to be used in places of worship to improve relations with Muslim communities (Independent) prompted, I’m afraid, rather dark thoughts about all forms of religion, about the stated purpose of Jihadists to 
So… I had a glass of Rioja and came up with the perfectly reasonable thought that if various communities, muslim, ethnic, Northern, Souther, Scots, Irish, lagerlouts, clubbers etc etc etc, wanted better relations with the Police then it might be an idea for some of those community elders or parents of those who commit offences to tell their offspring to commit less crimes and show a bit of respect for the community and country we live in . It was at this point that I went into the bedroom, opened the cupboard and was relieved to see that a Blazer and cravats had not appeared, as if by magic, and that I had not joined a golf club.
Back later….
Charon QC 
Sir,
I swear by everything holy, that atheism is the only way to go.
…so help me God.
cheerio,
JB
Charon,
I came home today and saw Marcus Brigstocke on the telly asking why Dawkins could not find some good things in religion. That was enough to make me spill my tea and now we see the plod are to wear burqas.
Jimmy
10 years of it at schools in Scotland persuaded me to the dark side….
Lunch at Lambeth palace Friday suit you… The Archbishop has some rather fine wines, they say…..
Best, as always
C
James C
Plod in Burqas is just a step too far for me…. but I still won’t wear a blazer or join a golf club….. !
Nope, Ya caint make it up if yer tried! ( I seem to have tickled the mysterious Ed Blawg Review’s funny bone, in any event!) That explains Dans comment on me blog, then!
CQC–
Anonymity exemption granted: Busy ambitious young women with big personalities in final barrister training seeking FQC and rights of audience from Bar Council.
No exemption: Generic timid people.
Agreed on this one. A terrible move – they’ve lost the principle of neutrality and their sense of judgement. I’m all for respecting religious communities, as you know, but this is over the line.
I think we have some serious problems with some of our most senior policemen losing it. Time for a clearout and rebuild from the roots under supervision from another country – Canada, perhaps?
It was the Avon and Somerset CC that withheld the confiscated Operation Ore evidence in the face of a Court Order in May, after taking legally privileged material relating to (I think) the current challenge last September.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6368314.ece
The more subtle point is that they are not reacting to “The Muslim Community”; they are reacting to a combination of “those they have decided represent the Muslim Community” and “those who have appointed themselves to represent the Muslim Community”.
In 2 words – reacting to a non-representative sample.
Dan – couldn’t agree more. Law Minx is always generous in her enthusiasm for blogging!
I did like the irony though – and thought you may as well.
I read part of Dan Hull’s post as…
‘Busty ambitious young women’
Blushblushblush.
I must hacve a one track mind…
Thanks for catching the typo, Rabbit Entity. Yes CQC, irony; as you know, re: young busy women, my hypocrisies have no bounds.
Dan…. I’m with you on this one….
Sir,
Forgive my tardiness, Lambeth Palace Friday will be fine. The Archbishop does indeed have some rather fine wines, sadly he also has many stories of languid masturbation to accompany them.
I’ll pacify him with his usual delivery of viagra and German salami. Hopefully one of which will keep him amused for hours.
Till Friday then…
cheerio,
JB
Funny how it turned out that this was yet another comment from the right wing that turned out to be entirely incorrect.