Being Jewish should never be a provocation, Home Office says – as Met Police apologises after threat to arrest antisemitism campaigner
Being Jewish “should never be seen as provocative”, the government has said, following the controversial policing of a pro-Palestinian march in London.
Scotland Yard had to apologise twice after an officer prevented an antisemitism campaigner from crossing a road yards from a demonstration because he was “openly Jewish”.
A video showed an officer using the term while speaking to Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, who was wearing a kippah skull cap near the protest in the Aldwych area of London on the afternoon of Saturday 13 April.
He was also threatened with arrest if he failed to leave the area.
Issuing an initial apology on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, assistant commissioner Matt Twist said the officer’s use of the phrase was “hugely regrettable”, but suggested Mr Falter’s presence had been “provocative” and the release of the footage would “further dent the confidence of many Jewish Londoners”.
The response prompted further criticism, with Mr Falter accusing the force of “victim-blaming” and arguing it was “the right of every Jew” to walk freely around London.
In the face of a backlash, the Met subsequently deleted the statement and issued a second apology for the “further offence” caused.
The force said: “Being Jewish is not a provocation. Jewish Londoners must be able to feel safe in this city.
“Our commitment to protecting the public extends to all communities across London.
“It’s important that our public statements reflect that more clearly than they did today.”
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It is understood Home Secretary James Cleverly has written to both the Met and London Mayor Sadiq Khan about the incident.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We welcome the Met Police’s apology, and recognise the complexities of policing fast-moving public protests, but simply being Jewish – or of any other race or religion – should never be seen as provocative.
“Anyone of any religion should be free to go about their lives and feel safe doing so.”
Policing minister Chris Philp MP said: “I am deeply concerned by recent protest-related events.
“No-one should be told their religion is provocative, nor an innocent person threatened with arrest solely because of someone else’s anticipated unreasonable reaction.
“I will meet the Commissioner next week to discuss this.”
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A spokesperson for Mr Khan said: “Everybody must feel safe going about in London wherever they please.
“The way the original incident was dealt with by the Met was concerning and the original response put out by them was insensitive and wrong.
“The Met have an extremely difficult job – particularly so when it comes to operational decisions taken while policing marches – but in the end the Met must have the confidence of the communities they serve and it is right that they have apologised for the way the incident was handled and their original public response.”
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Mr Falter said he had been walking in the capital after attending a synagogue and was not there to counter-protest as he walked past the demonstration last Saturday.
Footage showed one police officer saying to him: “You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march, I’m not accusing you of anything, but I’m worried about the reaction to your presence.”
In the clip, another officer said to him: “There’s a unit of people here now.
“You will be escorted out of this area so you can go about your business, go where you want freely or if you choose to remain here, because you are causing a breach of peace with all these other people, you will be arrested.”
The officer said Mr Falter’s presence was “antagonising”.
The antisemitism campaigner said after the incident: “Despite being told repeatedly that London is safe for Jews when these marches are taking place, my interactions with police officers last Saturday show that the Met believes that being openly Jewish will antagonise the anti-Israel marchers and that Jews need protection, which the police cannot guarantee.
“Instead of addressing that threat of antisemitic violence, the Met’s policy instead seems to be that law-abiding Jewish Londoners should not be in the parts of London where these marches are taking place. In other words, that they are no-go zones for Jews.”
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered in London last Saturday to call for a ceasefire and urge the government to stop all arms sales to Israel.
Crowds waved Palestinian flags, chanted “free Palestine” and held signs calling for a “ceasefire now”.
An emergency measure has been triggered by the Ministry of Justice to deal with prison overcrowding in England.
Operation Early Dawn will see defendants in police custody remain there – and not be transferred to magistrates’ courts for bail hearings – in case there is no space in jail cells for that prisoner if they are remanded into custody.
Sky News understands the measure is just being used in London and the North East, at the moment.
The Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, says many magistrates’ court cases will be delayed as a result, with the most serious cases given priority.
Defendants who are not prioritised will be released on police bail, the Law Society added.
Read more: Early prison release scheme causing ‘high-risk’ offenders to be let out
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir said the “prison system is in chaos” and asked the prime minister if his decision to “let prisoners out 70 days early makes our country more secure”.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “This government is categorical that the most dangerous offenders should stay behind bars for longer, which is why new laws will keep rapists locked up for every day of their prison sentence and ensure life means life for the most horrific murderers.
“We continue to see pressure on our prisons following the impact of the pandemic and barristers’ strike which is why we have initiated a previously used measure to securely transfer prisoners between courts and custody and ensure there is always a custody cell available should they be remanded.”
The Law Society said it was “crystal clear” the prison space crisis “is a consequence of the government’s approach to justice including over a decade of underfunding of our criminal justice system”.
A spokesman added: “Victims, witnesses, defendants and lawyers will today turn up at magistrates’ courts across England only to find out that their cases have been delayed due to a crisis in prison and police cell capacity outside of their control.
“As of now, we understand that this pattern will be repeated every day that this emergency measure is in place.”
File pic: iStock
High-risk offenders being released early
In February, a separate scheme – the End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL) – to allow prisoners to be released early due to a lack of space was extended indefinitely. Those convicted of serious offences are not eligible for early release.
A row broke out over the scheme during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of allowing sex offenders to be released early.
Sir Keir quoted a report published on Tuesday by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons about Lewes prison in East Sussex, after he found a “high-risk prisoner had his release date brought forward under the ECSL scheme, despite having a history of stalking, domestic abuse and being subject to a restraining order”.
“He was a risk to children and subject to an exclusion zone that included the local authority responsible for trying to house him,” the report said.
But the prime minister said: “As I’ve said, no one should be put on this scheme if they are a threat to the country.
“And let me be crystal clear… it does not apply to anyone serving a life sentence.
“Anyone convicted of a serious violent offence, anyone convicted of terrorism, anyone convicted of a sex offence, and crucially, in contrast to the system that Labour had put in place, governors and the prison service have an absolute lock so that no one is put on this scheme who shouldn’t be.”
The owner of Royal Mail has said it is “minded” to accept a revised takeover bid by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.
The latest offer from Mr Kretinsky’s investment firm EP Group values the Royal Mail parent company International Distribution Services (IDS) at £3.5bn.
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Mr Kretinsky’s firm already owns most of IDS as a 27.6% shareholder but wishes to buy the remaining shares.
An earlier offer of £3.20 a share had been rejected last month for being too low.
But now he has offered to pay £3.60 for each share. The day before the original offer was made a share in IDS cost £2.14.
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An extra shareholder pay out of 8 pence a share has been offered by EP Group, if the deal closes, as has a 2 pence per share payment to every stakeholder, expected to be paid in September.
It would bring the total value of an IDS share to 73% more than it cost before the prospect of a buyout was raised.
‘Good value’
“Having considered the proposal, the board has indicated to EP Group that it would be minded to recommend an offer to IDS shareholders”, the IDS board said.
The price is “fair” and reflects the value of current growth plans, the IDS chairman said.
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Royal Mail could be allowed to deliver letters just three days per week, under a series of options outlined by the industry regulator.
Consideration was given by the board to the national significance of Royal Mail as the operator of the postal network.
“The board is particularly mindful of Royal Mail’s unique heritage and responsibilities as the designated universal service provider in the United Kingdom and a key part of national infrastructure”, it said.
In assessing the proposal, the board has also been very mindful of the impact on Royal Mail and GLS and their respective stakeholders and employees, as well as broader public interest factors”.
EP Group has until 29 May to advance or withdraw its takeover bid.
Who is Daniel Kretinsky?
There has already been scrutiny of Mr Kretinsky’s part ownership in the postal company but a government national security concerns review into his investment led to no intervention.
He also owns parts of West Ham Football Club and Sainsbury’s.
EP Group, which he controls, has financial interests in energy, logistics, and food retail.
The King and Queen have arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral in central London for a service of dedication for the Order of the British Empire.
Established by King George V in 1917 to reward outstanding contributions to the war effort – it now recognises the work of people from all walks of life.
Pic: PA
Around 2,000 people who are holders of the royal honours such as MBEs and OBEs – from the UK and Commonwealth – formed part of the congregation.
The King is the Sovereign of the Order of the British Empire, and the Queen is the Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire.
Pic: PA
It comes after the King carried out his first investiture in five months – and his first since his cancer diagnosis – at Windsor Castle yesterday.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who conducted the service for the coronation, was one of the 52 recipients of an investiture – and was given the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
Awards of the Royal Victorian Order are in the King’s gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the Royal Family in a personal way.
He said the King seemed in “very good spirits indeed” and was “looking very well” as they spoke during the ceremony.
The monarch, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, was given permission by his doctors to return to public duties last month.
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Dean of Westminster Abbey Dr David Hoyle was among the other people honoured at the ceremony, as he was made a Knight Commander for his own role in the coronation.
He revealed there were plans for a building in the King’s honour to be built on the side of Westminster Abbey.
“We have already done the archaeology, so the site is prepared. We have plans which the King has seen. We hope we might have it built in the next two to three years,” he said.
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The King has invested a handful of people with honours over the past few months.
However, these ceremonies took place in private during individual audiences at royal residences.
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