The under-fire commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, has described one of his officer’s use of the phrase “openly Jewish” as being “clumsy and offensive” but has defended him from criticism.
Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), was threatened with arrest for a breach of the peace after he tried to defy officers who tried to prevent him crossing a pro-Palestinian protest in central London on April 13.
One of the officers was heard on a video describing Mr. Falter, who was wearing a kippah, as “openly Jewish” and asking him to wait for a police escort.
But Sir Mark has said none of the officers involved in the incident would face any disciplinary charges.
‘Wider Actions and Intent of the Officer Were Professional’
Sir Mark said, “The wider actions and intent of the officer were professional and in the best tradition of British police trying to prevent disorder.”He said: “The public would be horrified if we said, well, it’s obvious if those two groups come together, there’s going to be a massive fight. We’ll stand back and wait till it happens and we’ll pick up the pieces afterwards.”
But on Monday Mr. Falter issued a statement in which he said, “Police should be protecting those believed to be under threat, not threatening them with arrest to appease suspected violent racists.”
Sir Mark met Home Secretary James Cleverly and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Monday.
Mr. Khan, who appointed Sir Mark having sacked his predecessor Dame Cressida Dick in 2022, said he had “full confidence” in the commissioner.
On Monday the Community Security Trust (CST) and the London Jewish Forum met Sir Mark and Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, who leads on public order policing, to clarify matters regarding the safety of the Jewish community.
The CST is pushing for a reduction in the number of pro-Palestinian protests permitted in central London, which Mr. Falter has accused of being “anti-Israel marches.”
‘Cumulative Impact of Repeated Anti-Israel Protests’
The CST said, “We will continue our dialogue with police later this week to express our concerns regarding the cumulative impact of the repeated anti-Israel protests in terms of disruption and intimidation of the Jewish community.”It added: “Sir Mark has reassured me he will make this clear to all sections of the community as a matter of urgency. The Met’s focus now is rightly on reassurance, learning from what happened, and ensuring that Jewish people are safe and feel safe in London. I support them in that critical endeavour.”
Mr. Falter has vowed to turn up at the next pro-Palestinian march and has encouraged other Jews to join him.
He claims the marches are by their very nature anti-Semitic.
In the footage of the April 13 incident the officer, who has not been identified, says to Mr. Falter, “You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march, I’m not accusing you of anything but I’m worried about the reaction to your presence.”
Mr. Falter told the officer, “The Metropolitan Police says that these marches are completely safe for Jews, there is no problem whatsoever.”
He added: “You are telling me that I cannot walk to the other pavement? That I have to be escorted by you?”
The officer replied, “I am telling you that I will help you by escorting you over there and that way you will be completely safe, just as we promised, so we are keeping our word.”
