Rishi Sunak “appalled” by police treatment of Jewish man at London protest

April 21, 2024

Author: Andre Rhoden-Paul

Image source: Campaign Against Antisemitism

Key Highlights

• British Chancellor Rishi Sunak expresses dismay over police conduct towards Jewish man at a London protest.
• Metropolitan Police apologies twice after officer refers to the Jewish man as “openly Jewish”.
• Gideon Falter, head of Campaign Against Antisemitism, threatened with arrest and accused of causing “breach of peace”.
• Met Police offers a private meeting to Mr. Falter, commits to making Jewish Londoners feel safe.
• Prime Minister expects Commissioner to provide an explanation and hold officers accountable, while the Mayor expresses confidence in the Commissioner.
• New footage emerges depicting Mr. Falter trying to cross the road, contradicting certain claims.
• The Board of Deputies of British Jews requests a meeting with the Met Commissioner to address the “series of high-profile errors” and “entirely avoidable mistakes”.
• The Home Secretary calls for an explanation and vows to engage further, while Deputy Foreign Secretary criticizes the Met’s response as “way over the top”.

Details

Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has expressed his shock and disappointment over the treatment of a Jewish man at a recent pro-Palestinian protest in London, according to a Downing Street source. Metropolitan Police has issued two apologies after one of its officers referred to Gideon Falter, the head of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), as “openly Jewish”.

On 13 April, Falter, who was wearing a kippah skull-cap, was stopped by the police and threatened with arrest on the grounds of causing a “breach of peace”. He has called for the resignation of the Met’s commissioner and demands for better treatment of Jewish Londoners to ensure their safety. Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist has reached out to Falter to apologize personally and discuss steps to enhance the security of Jewish communities. Meanwhile, Downing Street has supported Falter’s stance and criticized the Met for mishandling the incident, demanding accountability from Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.

Mr. Falter, in an interview with BBC News, expressed his fear during the encounter and described his treatment as “being treated like a criminal for being Jewish”. He criticized the Met’s commissioner for infringing on the rights of law-abiding Londoners to appease unruly mobs, calling for a change in leadership. Dal Babu, former chief superintendent in the Met Police, offered a different perspective on the incident, suggesting that the complete 13-minute video contradicted some of Falter’s claims. Babu defended the police officers’ actions, highlighting their restraint and the efforts made to assist Falter in crossing the road safely.

This incident adds to the concerns surrounding the Met Police’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that have taken place in the recent months. The force has faced criticism for several perceived failures in maintaining public order during such protests. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has scheduled a meeting with the Met commissioner to address these concerns and seek remedies for the perceived lapses.

The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has written to both the Met commissioner and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, seeking a thorough explanation of the incident. The mayor’s office has expressed concern over the handling of the case, emphasizing the importance of the police having the trust and confidence of the communities they serve. The Met commissioner is expected to meet with the Policing Minister, Chris Philp, to address the incident.

The fallout from this incident has garnered attention from various political figures, with Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell lambasting the Met’s response as “way over the top”. However, there is no clear consensus as to the appropriate course of action, with some individuals, including shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood, opining that the Met commissioner’s resignation is not the solution. The issue at hand goes beyond individual police officers and necessitates a deeper examination of systemic issues related to combating antisemitism and maintaining public order.

“Treated like a criminal”

Gideon Falter’s interview on Good Morning Britain shed light on members of the Jewish community’s concerns over their safety during pro-Palestinian marches. Falter asserted that Jewish people attending these protests often feel unsafe and are reluctantly forced to participate to ensure that necessary security measures are implemented. He further criticized the police response, claiming that the marches are insufficiently policed, resulting in threats of arrest to Jews peacefully observing the demonstrations.

The Metropolitan Police offered an updated statement emphasizing their commitment to the safety of Jewish Londoners and expressing the intention to engage leaders from London’s Jewish communities, the mayor’s office, and the House of Lords in an operational planning exercise. These steps are intended to ensure better communication and increased reassurance to Jewish communities in the city.

“Entirely avoidable mistakes”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews will engage in a meeting with the Met commissioner to discuss a series of perceived mistakes and avoidable errors surrounding the incident. The intention of the meeting is to rectify shortcomings, prioritize community safety, and enhance relations between the Met Police and London’s Jewish communities. The Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has personally written to the Met commissioner and the Mayor of London, demanding an explanation regarding the incident.

Conclusion

The incident involving Gideon Falter has sparked a broader conversation about the Metropolitan Police’s handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the safety of Jewish Londoners. While different political figures and community leaders express their concerns, there is no unified consensus regarding the fate of Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. Nevertheless, the Met Police has acknowledged the issue, offered apologies, and initiated internal discussions to address the mistakes and improve community relations in the future.

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