CALLS were last night made for more evidence after a report suggested Muslims in Bradford who give money to charity could be being tricked into funding criminal or terrorist organisations.

Police officers in West Yorkshire told researchers that "religious injunction" within some of the city's communities to give to charitable groups had left them open to questionable practice.

The concerns were raised as part of a research project which looked at the role of community policing in combating extremism and promoting the Government's Prevent counter-radicalisation strategy.

Report author Hannah Stuart, an extremism expert at the Henry Jackson Society, said the Bradford link resulted from interviews with officers from West Yorkshire Police and the North East Counter-Terrorism Unit.

As part of its conclusions, it said: "Police recognise that the religious injunction to give to charity within Bradford's Muslim communities can make them vulnerable not only to fundraising for criminal or terrorist intent but also to intimidating styles of fundraising which seek to take advantage of a widespread generous and permissive attitude towards giving."

The report, titled Community Policing and Preventing Extremism: Lessons from Bradford, also looked a rise in Syria-related charities and a surge in fundraising around the Gaza conflict - and the consequent "intimidating" styles of fundraising where potential givers would be made to feel threatened or guilty if they did not donate.

The report said Bradford has not seen the Syria-related problems seen in others cities, but added: "Despite this, the police remain concerned about the potential for individuals to graduate from charitable giving to joining an aid convoy and then find themselves involved or suspected of being involved in terrorism-related activity."

But Ratna Lachman, director at JUST West Yorkshire, said: "We are concerned that against the heightened concern around extremism and the ‘war on terror’ many of the Muslims we have spoken to believe that Muslim charities are being disproportionately targeted.

"It is important that if monies are in fact being raised for criminal or terrorist purposes, the Muslim community in Bradford must be offered clear evidence from the Charities Commission and the police that this is happening, rather than having to rely on research findings from the Henry Jackson Society.

"We commend the police’s efforts to raise awareness of those who are raising monies under false pretences. On balance, however, Bradford’s Muslim communities are peace-loving and the charitable donations that they have made have supported many good causes and alleviated suffering around the world."

Bana Gora, of the Muslim Women's Council, said: "At a time when Muslims are under intense scrutiny and rising Islamaphobia, creating yet another dimension by which the Muslim community can be watched, judged and monitored is not at all conducive to good community relations. It is normal practice that when there is a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis people will respond."

She continued: "As the report states any fears the police may have of people being inadvertently drawn into conflict situations is unfounded in Bradford. If the police and the Council have any concerns than by all means they should raise awareness and help to educate individuals and communities as to what they should do to avoid any potential dangers."

Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Wilson, head of the North East Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "We want people to give with confidence to charities and donate in the knowledge that their money will be used effectively.

"Unfortunately however, we know that there are some people out there who are trying to exploit the public and derail genuine contributions to benefit themselves or in some cases towards criminal purposes."