Zack Polanski expresses ongoing concerns regarding the police handling of an antisemitic terror incident in north London despite facing criticism. The Green leader recently issued an apology after facing backlash for sharing a post alleging that officers had physically assaulted a mentally ill man following his arrest. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley cautioned against such accusations, labeling them as potentially detrimental, and criticized armchair experts in a public statement.
While acknowledging that reposting the content was not appropriate, Polanski maintained his unease about the response to the Golders Green attack. In a conversation with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, he emphasized that social media was not the suitable platform for such concerns. He also noted that an open letter from the commissioner may not have been the right forum and expressed readiness to address the issue in a private meeting.
As a member of the London assembly overseeing the Met Police, Polanski emphasized the importance of holding public servants accountable, even those displaying bravery. He also criticized attempts to suppress pro-Palestine protests as a means to combat antisemitism, urging against the use of certain phrases while affirming a stance against policing language.
The Prime Minister’s call for protesters to refrain from using specific phrases during Gaza marches has sparked debate. While acknowledging the significance of language, he underscored the importance of defending the right to protest and finding more effective ways to convey messages without incendiary rhetoric.
Criticism of Polanski’s actions came from various quarters, with Labour’s Communities Secretary Steve Reed condemning his continued questioning of the police response to the antisemitic attack. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also expressed disapproval of Polanski’s initial social media post, emphasizing the bravery and professionalism of the responding officers.
In related developments, Keir Starmer proposed potentially restricting certain protests and advocating for stricter monitoring of protest language, while Kemi Badenoch called for a temporary halt to pro-Palestine marches. Following the Golders Green attack, the UK’s national threat level was raised to severe, prompting a review into the impact of protests on societal cohesion and safety.