A report claims grooming gangs were not stopped because people were 'afraid of being branded racist' (Image: Getty)

       Adopting an official definition of “Islamophobia” would risk dividing Britain and making it harder to stop crime, a leading think tank has warned.

       The Rotherham grooming gang scandal was not stopped because people were “afraid of being branded racist or anti-Muslim,” according to a new report from Policy Exchange.

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Sponsored

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       不小心把钥匙断在锁孔很深怎么取出?不要著急TopManFun 了解更多

       Undo

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Migrant children, 6 and 9, crossed Channel alone - now parents want asylum in UK too

       178 Comments

       Sri Lankan paedophile not deported from UK as it could 'breach his human rights'

       Comments

       Russian mafia 'laundering millions with the help of Spanish politicians'

       3 Comments

       Britain is at breaking point - and the powerful punish those who notice

       386 Comments

       Tories demand 'radical overhaul' of human rights laws to end migration madness

       228 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Zimbabwean paedophile allowed to stay in UK as he'd face 'hostility' back home

       35 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       76 Comments

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       589 Comments

       Woman who failed 8 times to get asylum in UK finally succeeds after joining terror group

       287 Comments

       Six Afghan nationals arrested in UK raids for alleged small boat smuggling operation

       32 Comments

       Migration chaos as 'floodgates opened' to millions of refugees

       1709 Comments

       Ministers urged not to adopt definition of 'Islamophobia' criminals could exploit

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer's one move could 'destroy our economy', Kemi Badenoch warns

       25 Comments

       每天喝苹果醋的7大好处：身体会感谢你的MoneyFunny

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       World's first 'openly gay' Imam shot dead in 'professional hit'

       107 Comments

       Racist fathers jailed for attempting to fuel fire at Rotherham hotel during riots

       22 Comments

       宝宝不停地摸肚子–医生发现原因时震惊了热门话题

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       British restaurant and retail leaders send desperate message to Labour: 'Must be priority'

       1 Comments

       'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims

       56 Comments

       钥匙断在锁芯裡，怎么都取不出来怎么办?今天教你一招TopManFun

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Knife crime crackdown as violent thugs could be banned from buying blades online

       81 Comments

       Tough crackdown on selling knives to children as online sellers threatened with jail

       91 Comments

       苹果醋7种隐藏力量：从保健到美容的天然良方有趣事实

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Migrant children, 6 and 9, crossed Channel alone - now parents want asylum in UK too

       178 Comments

       Sri Lankan paedophile not deported from UK as it could 'breach his human rights'

       Comments

       They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock YouCash Roadster

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Russian mafia 'laundering millions with the help of Spanish politicians'

       3 Comments

       Britain is at breaking point - and the powerful punish those who notice

       386 Comments

       她怎么也想不到，她母亲的项鍊有一个秘密！她在25年後发现了这个秘密。MoneyFunny

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Tories demand 'radical overhaul' of human rights laws to end migration madness

       228 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       女子25年後，她母亲心爱的项鍊的秘密被揭开。MoneyFunny

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Zimbabwean paedophile allowed to stay in UK as he'd face 'hostility' back home

       35 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       76 Comments

       Failed Celebs Who Lost It All & Some Of Them Work Normal Jobs NowThe Family Breeze

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       589 Comments

       Woman who failed 8 times to get asylum in UK finally succeeds after joining terror group

       287 Comments

       看看世界上第一个七胞胎在21岁时的样子吧Story To Hear

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Six Afghan nationals arrested in UK raids for alleged small boat smuggling operation

       32 Comments

       Migration chaos as 'floodgates opened' to millions of refugees

       1709 Comments

       Taylor Swift's Natural Beauty ShinesThe Noodle Box

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Ministers urged not to adopt definition of 'Islamophobia' criminals could exploit

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer's one move could 'destroy our economy', Kemi Badenoch warns

       25 Comments

       World's first 'openly gay' Imam shot dead in 'professional hit'

       107 Comments

       Racist fathers jailed for attempting to fuel fire at Rotherham hotel during riots

       22 Comments

       British restaurant and retail leaders send desperate message to Labour: 'Must be priority'

       1 Comments

       'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims

       56 Comments

       Knife crime crackdown as violent thugs could be banned from buying blades online

       81 Comments

       Tough crackdown on selling knives to children as online sellers threatened with jail

       91 Comments

       Migrant children, 6 and 9, crossed Channel alone - now parents want asylum in UK too

       178 Comments

       Sri Lankan paedophile not deported from UK as it could 'breach his human rights'

       Comments

       Russian mafia 'laundering millions with the help of Spanish politicians'

       3 Comments

       Britain is at breaking point - and the powerful punish those who notice

       386 Comments

       Tories demand 'radical overhaul' of human rights laws to end migration madness

       228 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Zimbabwean paedophile allowed to stay in UK as he'd face 'hostility' back home

       35 Comments

       The authors urge the Government not to bow to pressure and adopt a formal definition of “Islamophobia”, warning this “would make this problem worse”.

       They state: “The charge of ‘Islamophobia’ is often used by wrongdoers, criminals or bad faith actors who are Muslim to smear or deter those who seek to expose them. As we show, it was repeatedly used for this purpose in the Rotherham scandal and in other instances of grooming.

       “It continued to be used in this way even years after the facts were established beyond doubt.”

       Sponsored

       True EditionMilitary Miss America Shows Off Her Figure In New 20 Photos

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Warning against stoking divisions in society, they state: “The Government rejects claims of two-tier policing. But adopting any form of Islamophobia definition would clearly create two-tier policy, formalising different treatment of people depending on their religion.

       “This would be very damaging for community cohesion, and for the position of British Muslims.”

       Don't miss...

       Rupert Lowe launches new attack on Labour over grooming gangs scandal [LATEST]

       Keir Starmer's Britain faces crisis as state fails to protect the innocent [LATEST]

       Grooming gang scandal is explosive for both Keir and Kemi [LATEST]

       A 'huge step forward' to stop predators grooming children [LATEST]

       A landmark report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2018 argued that “a definition of Islamophobia is vital”. It claimed Islamophobia is “now so prevalent in society and dispersed across institutional, social, political and economic life that it deserves to be recognised at Britain’s ‘bigotry blind spot’”.

       The Westminster group’s report warned that “age-old stereotypes and tropes about Islam” and “their modern-day iteration in the ‘Asian grooming gangs’ or ‘Bin Laden’ labels” heighten “vulnerability of Muslims to hate crimes”. Its definition of Islamophobia states it is “a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Migrant children, 6 and 9, crossed Channel alone - now parents want asylum in UK too

       178 Comments

       Sri Lankan paedophile not deported from UK as it could 'breach his human rights'

       Comments

       Russian mafia 'laundering millions with the help of Spanish politicians'

       3 Comments

       Britain is at breaking point - and the powerful punish those who notice

       386 Comments

       Tories demand 'radical overhaul' of human rights laws to end migration madness

       228 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Zimbabwean paedophile allowed to stay in UK as he'd face 'hostility' back home

       35 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       76 Comments

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       589 Comments

       Woman who failed 8 times to get asylum in UK finally succeeds after joining terror group

       287 Comments

       Six Afghan nationals arrested in UK raids for alleged small boat smuggling operation

       32 Comments

       Migration chaos as 'floodgates opened' to millions of refugees

       1709 Comments

       Ministers urged not to adopt definition of 'Islamophobia' criminals could exploit

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer's one move could 'destroy our economy', Kemi Badenoch warns

       25 Comments

       Kevin James, 59, Married to This BeautyThe Latest Article

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       World's first 'openly gay' Imam shot dead in 'professional hit'

       107 Comments

       Racist fathers jailed for attempting to fuel fire at Rotherham hotel during riots

       22 Comments

       She Was Everyone's Dream Girl In 90's, This Is Her RecentlyBoite A Scoop

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       British restaurant and retail leaders send desperate message to Labour: 'Must be priority'

       1 Comments

       'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims

       56 Comments

       Everybody Wanted To Date Her In The 80's & This Is Her RecentlyPaperela

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Knife crime crackdown as violent thugs could be banned from buying blades online

       81 Comments

       Tough crackdown on selling knives to children as online sellers threatened with jail

       91 Comments

       Taylor Swift Goes Natural, Here’s How She Really LooksTelehealth Dave

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Migrant children, 6 and 9, crossed Channel alone - now parents want asylum in UK too

       178 Comments

       Sri Lankan paedophile not deported from UK as it could 'breach his human rights'

       Comments

       10 Celebrities Without Makeup; Number 10 Will Shock YouTelehealth Dave

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Russian mafia 'laundering millions with the help of Spanish politicians'

       3 Comments

       Britain is at breaking point - and the powerful punish those who notice

       386 Comments

       30 photos that really make you thinkHigh Tally

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Tories demand 'radical overhaul' of human rights laws to end migration madness

       228 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Never Throw Away the Water After Boiling Eggs - The Reason is Genius!Tips and Tricks

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Zimbabwean paedophile allowed to stay in UK as he'd face 'hostility' back home

       35 Comments

       Allowing asylum seeker to stay in the UK after joining a terror group branded 'sick joke'

       76 Comments

       Take a Look Inside The Mansion Where Tom Selleck's Lives AloneFavour Lifestyle

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       ‘Homes for Hamas': Lee Anderson erupts as court ruling 'opens floodgates' to Gaza

       589 Comments

       Woman who failed 8 times to get asylum in UK finally succeeds after joining terror group

       287 Comments

       She Was The Dream Girl In The 80s, This Is Her RecentlyPaperela

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Six Afghan nationals arrested in UK raids for alleged small boat smuggling operation

       32 Comments

       Migration chaos as 'floodgates opened' to millions of refugees

       1709 Comments

       Chrissy Metz Is So Skinny Now, See Her Fierce New LookOld Money Style

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Ministers urged not to adopt definition of 'Islamophobia' criminals could exploit

       12 Comments

       Keir Starmer's one move could 'destroy our economy', Kemi Badenoch warns

       25 Comments

       World's first 'openly gay' Imam shot dead in 'professional hit'

       107 Comments

       Racist fathers jailed for attempting to fuel fire at Rotherham hotel during riots

       22 Comments

       British restaurant and retail leaders send desperate message to Labour: 'Must be priority'

       1 Comments

       'Spiking' to be outlawed with 10-year sentence after one in ten women victims

       56 Comments

       Knife crime crackdown as violent thugs could be banned from buying blades online

       81 Comments

       Tough crackdown on selling knives to children as online sellers threatened with jail

       91 Comments

       Migrant children, 6 and 9, crossed Channel alone - now parents want asylum in UK too

       178 Comments

       Sri Lankan paedophile not deported from UK as it could 'breach his human rights'

       Comments

       Russian mafia 'laundering millions with the help of Spanish politicians'

       3 Comments

       Britain is at breaking point - and the powerful punish those who notice

       386 Comments

       Tories demand 'radical overhaul' of human rights laws to end migration madness

       228 Comments

       Failure to deport crook slammed as 'sick' and shows judges are 'protecting paedophiles'

       135 Comments

       Zimbabwean paedophile allowed to stay in UK as he'd face 'hostility' back home

       35 Comments

       职业失聪医唔到， 齐心保护先听到职业性失聪补偿管理局

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       退休医师揭秘：长寿秘诀并非多行多眠，而是坚持这两个小习惯TopManFun

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       退休医生坦言：寿命长不是靠多走路和多睡觉，而是坚持这2件小事TopManFun

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       香港无螺丝植牙费用揭晓：即日完成全口植牙，价格透明化！植牙 | 搜寻广告

       Undo

       by Taboola by Taboola

       Sponsored Links Sponsored Links

       Promoted Links Promoted Links

       Don't miss...

       Huge blow for UK gangs as 1,660 arrested and ￡3m of drugs seized [LATEST]

       Yobs escaping on the spot fines as thieves and thugs run riot on UK streets [LATEST]

       Disturbing crime figures show 55 people are robbed at knifepoint each day [LATEST]

       The true horror of Britain's shoplifting nightmare [LATEST]

       Trending

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       It was reported earlier this month the Government is planning to appoint a council on Islamophobia which would advise on drawing up an official definition of anti-Muslim discrimination.

       Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has warned against creating a “Trojan horse for a blasphemy law protecting Islam”.

       The All-Party Group on British Muslims and the Home Office have been invited to comment.