Scotland Yard Faces Scrutiny Over Handling of Pro-Palestinian Demonstrators
London’s streets, known for their historic charm and bustling activity, have transformed into a stage of heightened tensions. Thousands have converged, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. These vast crowds unite in solidarity, but the shadow of extremism looms over the capital, as police chiefs remain non-committal on detaining Hamas-supporting radicals advocating for “jihad” against Israel.
Tory deputy chair, Lee Anderson, expressed his frustration, stating, “The Met’s job is to arrest people who incite terrorist violence.” His exasperation continued with a pointed critique of the Met Police’s understanding of ‘jihad’. Anderson lamented, “Their bosses must be the only people in the UK not to know what meaning is being used. They need to get a grip of this hatred on our streets.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken a firm stance. Addressing the nation, he remarked, “The conflict, born out of Hamas’ terrorism, is no excuse for hate on our streets. Extremism will be tackled head on.” He believes the police already possess the necessary powers to arrest those inciting hatred.
Scotland Yard, on the other hand, adopts a more measured approach. They’ve indicated a willingness to intervene if ‘jihad’ is chanted, but stress that arrests would be subject to a “myriad of circumstances.” Such an approach hasn’t been without its critics. Conservative MP Marco Longhi drew a stark comparison, citing the arrest of a woman for silent prayer outside an abortion clinic. He said, “I find it amazing that the Police would penalise a woman standing in silence, while allowing behaviours that are offensive and divisive.”
The scale of the protests is nothing short of massive. Close to 100,000 individuals rallied last weekend in support of Palestine. Despite its largely peaceful nature, a video from the event depicting a demonstrator chanting “jihad” stirred controversy, with officers asserting the footage showed no identifiable offences.
Deep-seated anxieties have emerged within the UK’s Jewish community in light of these events. Actor Tracy-Ann Oberman’s poignant comments resonate with many. She expressed her dismay at the Metropolitan Police’s approach, equating it to the community being thrown “under a bus”.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has voiced concerns over potential gaps in the current anti-extremism framework, suggesting a revisitation of existing laws. Kyle Gordon, leading the Met Police’s command team, while recognising the challenges of such large-scale protests, reaffirmed the force’s commitment to curbing hate crime.
Recent statistics underscore the tense atmosphere in the capital. A significant increase in hate crimes, particularly against the Jewish community, has come to the fore. Just this month, a jarring 408 antisemitic offences were reported, a marked rise from the previous year. As London remains on high alert, the hope for unity and peace persists. Source
