Met police chief defends policing of anti-war protests after Sunak criticism

Mark Rowley has hit back at Rishi Sunak’s criticism of police policing of anti-war protests, rejecting claims that officers failed to enforce the law and saying police were being labeled both “woke and Fascist” label.

The Metropolitan Police chief spoke on Tuesday after police leaders were summoned to Downing Street last week to discuss their force’s approach to demonstrations against the conflict in Gaza.

In a speech on extremism in Britain on Friday, the Prime Minister claimed the army was managing rather than policing.

Speaking to London’s Police Commission, Britain’s top police officer said it was inaccurate to suggest that “we are outside the bounds of the law” as some faced death threats despite “passionate rhetoric” in support of strong police action. , the police felt victimized. Rowley also said most demonstrators were peaceful.

The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 and subsequent Israeli military operations triggered large-scale protests in London. The government has put pressure on the Met to take tougher action, with relations between the two institutions strained over the issue.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman accused police of two-tier policing, claiming they were harsher on far-right protesters than those marching against the war, and claimed pro-Palestinian marches showed anti-Semitism ism.

On Friday, Sunak said: “I met with senior police officers this week and made clear the public’s expectation that they would not only manage these protests but police them.

“I say to the police, when you take action, we will support you.”

In his first comments since the Prime Minister’s speech on Tuesday, Rowley said: “We have always been operating in a very challenging political environment, where tensions remain high and hate crime remains well above pre-October 7 levels.

“Police are used to being criticized. But if it is unreasonable I do worry about the impact it will have on our officers and staff and on public confidence as we strive to carry out our work without fear or favour.”

“Currently, one side of the debate seems to view our two-tiered policing as guilty, while the other side says we stifle and stifle the right to free speech.

“In the context of this polarized public debate, I do sometimes think we are the first people to be labeled both woke and fascist.”

The Met Commissioner continued: “It would be inaccurate to say that we are not where the law allows because the law allows for strong policing.

“At every major protest, the majority have been peaceful, we have seen wrongdoing and we have taken action.”

He said 360 people had been arrested, including those for public order and terrorism offences. Of those arrested, 90 were far-right supporters, with police believing Braverman’s comments ahead of the Memorial Sunday weekend protests were at least partly responsible for causing the trouble.

Rowley added: “We have to regulate the law as it is, not as other people want it to be.”

He said the threshold for banning protests was very high. He cited former Met Commissioner Robert Mark as saying police officers were often criticized as social tensions developed. “It feels like sometimes today today we’re like the anvil on these issues that needs to be hammered down,” Rowley said.

He said it was wrong for individual officers to be criticized, citing the case of a South Asian man. He had a pro-Palestinian sticker on his arm for a short timeThe photo was taken and then shared on social media as a sign of police bias against protesters opposed to Israeli military action.

Rowley said: “As a result, he and his family have received various death threats online. These are truly insidious and despicable actions that affect the confidence of officials and are not just critical of the organization.

“So despite the warm words, officers don’t feel supported. This reduces their confidence and willingness to take action in a variety of situations. Not just protests.”

Rowley said the protests had cost the Met £30m and he hoped the government would cover some, if not all, of that cost, with police saying it meant other crime-fighting activities were also affected.