Police and Community Engagement visit to Neeli Mosque and Deeplish Community Centre

Police and Community Engagement visit to Neeli Mosque & Deeplish Community Centre

As part of Community Engagement and Cultural understanding, GMP Special Constabulary organised a visit to Deeplish Community Centre and Neeli Mosque.

The visit was hosted by Sohail Ahmad, Manager of Community Centre and Mohammed Saqib, Committee Member and long outstanding volunteer from Neeli Mosque, facilitated by PCSO Amjad Mahmood in a bid to raise an awareness of community development, culture and faith.

Senior officers, sergeants, constables and PCSOs were given a strategic overview of how the mosque is connected with community and what happens in a mosque.

A spokesman for Neeli Mosque said: "Neeli Mosque is proactive in establishing educational and community links with strategic and local community members specially young people attending weekly classes, youth clubs, and other activities. This promotes safe secure and friendly environment within neighbourhood and communities."

Mohammed Saqib, presented an interactive session about functions, services, and understanding of Islamic and cultural values whichthe  mosque promotes amongst local community. Participants learnt about educational and charitable activities which mosque promotes for all communities.

Participants met with many local community members during prayer time and were given a tour of the mosque and its different departments and sections.

Mohammed Saqib, from Neeli Mosque, said: “We are pleased GMP visited Neeli Mosque and it gives us a great pleasure to work with agencies.

“It was also an opportunity to share the religion of Islam with everyone. We are very open as what goes on in a and how mosque is connected to local communities we serve.

“We are proud of this institution, which is fully supported and funded by local communities.”

Officer Mike Walmsley, from GMP, said: “This visit has given us real insight as to see what goes on in a mosque and is really interesting for all officers. We are pleased how mosque is bringing people together and we have shared very positive messages.

“It’s my first visit to a mosque and I am amazed to see the amount of work with children and young people here is key to help and develop community. This is the one of the main learning feature I will be taking away and I would recommend more special constables to visit mosque. We regularly recruit special constables and all information is on the police website.”

Aaron Frost, Special Sergeant, said: "We have learnt a lot in our visit to mosque and we are far more confident and aware of as the role of a mosque in a community together with faith activities.”

PC Rhys Ibbotson said: “Its been very educational and we met very nice people today and its great to see how mosque works in the community and its good opportunity to bring our faith to local community. Its good to see how mosque is benefiting local community.

“A big thank you to Neeli Mosque and Deeplish Community centre for arranging such an informative, interactive and friendly visit to share values and practices."

Sohail Ahmad, Manager at Deeplish Community Centre,  gave a presentation about equality, humanity and charity in Islamic culture and shard his experience of diversity and cultures with the group.

He said: “We are pleased to connect communities and people with organisations and agencies such as GMP and helping to promote peace and reduce crimes in our neighbourhood whilst working in partnership.

“It’s important to build confidence, and partnership through activities and visits like this.”