A police constable, who made a hoax 999 call to his own force claiming a Muslim officer was going to be kidnapped by Islamic State terrorists, has been jailed for seven years.
West Midlands Police were told a man called Irfan, who had just got back from Syria, was going to drive a car and kidnap a Muslim police officer.
After receiving the call on 8th December last year, the force went into ‘overdrive’ and a kidnap negotiator was put on standby.
Every officer across the force area was also told to call their stations when they arrived at home safely.
PC Amar Tasaddiq Hussain, 29, of Yardley, Birmingham, was charged with making the 999 call along with two others.
Jailing Hussain at Stafford Crown Court, Judge Michael Chambers QC criticised the officer for showing no remorse and pleading not guilty in the face of overwhelming evidence.
A trial which ended earlier this month was told that Hussain and two other Birmingham men hoped the 999 call would discredit an official at an Islamic community group they were members of.
Hussain, unemployed Adil Bashir, 26, and 31-year-old tutor Muhammad Ali Sheikh, were all convicted of two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Describing Hussain as “the last person who ought to be serving” with West Midlands Police, the judge said the officer had been the instigator of the offences – with his accomplices playing lesser roles.
The judge told Hussain that he had caused “chaos and anxiety” to his colleagues and “enormous” difficulties for his force.
The judge said: “It’s quite clear you abused your knowledge of the 999 system and police procedures for your own ends.
“It is also clear you were prepared to say any lie to avoid your guilt despite what was overwhelming evidence.”
Addressing all three defendants, the judge added: “The three of you plotted to falsely incriminate an innocent man with being involved in serious criminal offences.
“All three of you were members of the West Midlands branch of an international group which is an entirely peaceful and law-abiding organisation.
“You, Hussain, had been thwarted in your ambition to become its head of security.
“The effect of the 999 call was quite devastating both for (the innocent man arrested) and the police.
“At that time the threat level in the United Kingdom for terrorism matters was severe. Sadly we live in an age when such threats and plots are credible.”
The innocent party named in the ‘malicious’ tip-off was questioned over two days on suspicion of involvement in terrorism, causing him huge personal anxiety, the judge added.
