Politicians, including a former Justice Secretary, have spoken out against a lenient sentence given to a West Yorkshire police officer who shared images in support of Palestinian terror group Hamas.

PC Mohammed Adil, 26, from Calderdale in West Yorkshire, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday and was spared a custodial sentence.

He was given an 18-month Community Order to include up to 35 days of rehabilitation activity requirement and 160 hours of unpaid work.

Robert Buckland, the Conservative former Justice Secretary who is re-standing for election in South Swindon, told the JC that “for any serving police officer to support a proscribed terrorist organisation like Hamas is deeply disturbing and merits the most serious sentence.”

Controversial Reform UK parliamentary candidate Lee Anderson, until recently a member of Parliament’s Home Affairs Select Committee, told this paper that “not only is antisemitism ignored by police on the streets of London we now know that antisemitism has crept into the force itself. Not only is this an insult to our Jewish friends but it also casts a dark shadow over the thousands of decent hard-working police officers who put their lives on the line for us every day.”

PC Adil pleaded guilty to two counts of publishing an image in support of Hamas, contrary to section 13 of the Terrorism Act.

The first was an image of a man wearing a Hamas headband and what is believed to be a quote by Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigade, saying “today is the time for the Palestinian people to rise, set their path straight, and establish an independent Palestinian State”.

The second contained a similar image with a quote from what is believed to be Abu-Obieda, a spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigade, and the words: “We will hold accountable all those who occupied our lands, and Allah will hold accountable all those who remained silent against this occupation and oppression".

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) directed the investigation into Adil, carried out by Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE), after concerns were raised by colleagues over what he was posting on Whatsapp.

IOPC Regional Director Emily Barry said: “PC Adil’s actions were wholly unacceptable and fell far below the standards expected of a police officer. I am grateful to those who reported concerns about his behaviour, so that a thorough investigation could be carried out into his actions. What we found was deeply concerning – some of the content shared was antisemitic in nature and showed support for a terrorist group.”

Detective Superintendent Tanya Wilkins, of West Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Directorate confirmed that misconduct proceedings against Adil would commence.

She said that she understood “that it will cause some concern within our communities that a police officer has admitted showing support for a terrorist organisation.”

However, DS Wilkins said that “these messages actually came to light due to the integrity of two of PC Adil’s colleagues who came forward to report their concerns. This information was quickly acted upon and passed to Counter Terrorism Policing North East for investigation.”

The Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracey Brabin has been contacted for comment.