POLICE are stepping up patrols outside the capital's churches and mosques amid fears of a backlash against comments made by the Pope.

Reassurance patrols by faith and neighbourhood teams, put in place at the weekend, will continue at both Catholic and Christian churches and mosques, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.

The measures follow a Muslim protest against the Pope on Sunday outside Westminster Cathedral.

Demonstrators waved placards saying "Pope go to Hell", "Jesus is the slave of Allah" and "May Allah curse the Pope".

The protest was a reaction to a speech made by the Catholic religious leader last week in which he quoted a medieval emperor who said the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed were "evil".

The Metropolitan police has since launched an investigation into Sunday's demonstration after receiving 25 complaints from members of the public.

Some of them relate to the words of Anjem Choudary, former UK head of the controversial Islamic group Al-Mahajroun, who allegedly told the crowd: "Whoever insults the message of Mohammed is going to be subject to capital punishment."

Assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, in charge of public order policing, said: "Officers are looking at what took place to ascertain if any criminal offences have been committed."