London Police Commissioner Mark Rowley defended an officer who prevented a Jewish man from crossing the street during a pro-Palestinian protest, saying he was trying to prevent a confrontation.
Rowley apologized for the officer’s remark that the man looked “openly Jewish,” but said the officer’s actions were professional and in the best tradition of British police trying to prevent disorder.
The commissioner also said that pro-Palestinian protesters have been prevented from entering Jewish areas of the city to prevent altercations, and that the protests have made the streets of London “a no-go zone for Jews every weekend.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he still has confidence in Rowley, who met with senior members of the London Jewish community, the London Mayor, and the British Home Secretary to discuss the concerns.
The meetings came as London police struggle to manage tensions sparked by the Israel-Hamas war, with Jewish residents saying they feel threatened by repeated pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel marches through the streets of the UK capital.
After the meeting with Jewish community leaders, Community Service Trust, a British charity that fights antisemitism, released a statement commending police conduct since October 7, but saying that more action must be taken, such as “reducing the number of protests, moving them to less disruptive locations and acting firmly and consistently” against demonstrators who commit offenses.
