Police Duties and personal feelings

[jfish1936]

In a news item from London,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5408470.stm

a police constable has been excused from guarding the Israeli embassy because he is a Muslim.
Does this mean that police can pick and choose -- eg, not prevent violence outside an abortion clinic because the policeman is a Right-To-Lifer?
Shouldn't the police maintain the law at all times, even to protect people they personally hate?

[Dario Western]

In a news item from London,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5408470.stm

a police constable has been excused from guarding the Israeli embassy because he is a Muslim.
Does this mean that police can pick and choose -- eg, not prevent violence outside an abortion clinic because the policeman is a Right-To-Lifer?
Shouldn't the police maintain the law at all times, even to protect people they personally hate?

I agree that they should be completely impartial. Being an event organiser myself, it really pains me when the police enforce their own insecurities and prejudices onto it.

[501ST]

A police officer swears an oath to uphold the law and to do so without fear or favour.

Religious views should not be drawn into these duties at all.

My view is this officer is demonstrating he is unable to be impartial and thus not fit to be a holder of a public office let alone a police officer.

[jfish1936]

Suppose the Moslem police officer had to investigate a break-in at a pork butcher's? in partnership with a Jewish officer?

Could they set aside their concerns of religious defilement?