The Metropolitan Police has hit back at criticism of its role in investigating war crimes in the Israel-Hamas conflict and has insisted it does not impact on its normal policing of crime in London.
Police Accused of ‘Virtue Signalling’
Simon Myerson, KC, chairman of Leeds Jewish Representative Council, told The Times: “At the moment, if one complains about a fraud or a bicycle being stolen, it’s extremely unlikely to be investigated, and I wonder whether this is a good use of police resources. It seems closer to virtue signalling than actual action.”Mr. Myerson said: “As far as the Jewish community is concerned, it is disappointing that there are protests and convoys where there is clear anti-Semitism on display. I don’t think the force has been politicised, I think that’s too convenient and the police are making difficult decisions. They are in a new area and unfortunately they are practising on citizens.”
But in a statement sent out in an email on Thursday, the Met said, “The work of the War Crimes Team has been a relatively small, but important part of the overall CTP (Counter-Terrorism Policing) response to events in Israel and Gaza.”
“It’s also important to note that the work of the War Crimes Team delivered on behalf of CTP nationally does not impact on the ability of the Met to tackle the crimes which matter most to Londoners, including violence and knife crime,” it added.
They also said: “It is important to note, however, that contrary to some recent reports and commentary in the media and elsewhere, we have not opened or conducted our own UK-based war crimes investigation into this matter.”
UK Government has International Obligation
Scotland Yard added: “As part of its work, the War Crimes Team has a duty and obligation to support UK communities and international bodies, including the International Criminal Court [ICC]. Our obligation to support the ICC, in particular, comes from the UK government being a signatory of the 1998 Rome statute, which is also recognised by more than 100 other states worldwide.”In Dec, 2019 Fatou Bensouda, the chief prosecutor of the ICC, said, “I am satisfied that war crimes have been or are being committed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip ... and there are no substantial reasons to believe that an investigation would not serve the interests of justice.”
Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Ever since the appalling attacks in Israel, Counter Terrorism Policing here in London and across the UK has been responding in a variety of ways to support those in the UK who have been directly affected while working to keep communities in London and across the UK safe amid a rise in hate crime and extremism.”
He added: “CT officers have been gathering direct evidence and information relating to the terrorist attacks on Oct. 7. This has been in support of the UK coronial investigations into the death of British nationals who were sadly killed in those attacks.”
Mr. Murphy pointed out the Met had also arrested more than 400 people including, “hate crimes and public order offences” linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Specifically countering Mr. Johnson’s criticism, the Met statement says: “Following the Oct. 7 attacks, and the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas since, we began to see higher volumes of people returning to the UK from the region.”
“In late November, posters signposting how people could contact CTP were displayed at certain airports to inform those who may have been witness to, or victim of, terrorism, war crimes or crimes against humanity of how they can get in touch,” the Met added.
“The poster deliberately referred to those in Israel and Gaza in order to provide a reporting route for all parties.”
