London police chief rebukes PM’s criticism of handling of Palestine protests

London's Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Mark Rowley, refuted Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's claims that the police merely managed, rather than actively policed, recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Sunak had expressed expectations for a tougher police response in a speech about extremism.

Rowley defended the force at a London Policing Board meeting, stating that while the majority of protests were peaceful, his officers encountered challenges, including death threats, and felt unsupported, affecting their confidence. He also noted that the polarized political climate and accusations from both sides of the political spectrum complicated policing efforts.

Rowley addressed the financial strain of £30 million due to the protests, asking the government for support as resources were diverted from other crimes. He emphasized that the force acted against wrongdoing at protests as permitted by law and rejected claims of biased policing.