Police chief admits major mistakes in handling pro-Palestine marches

Admission of errors

A Police chief has admitted major mistakes were made in handling pro-Palestine marches. The Met’s Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist also conceded that a protester shouting "jihad" should have been arrested sooner.

Acknowledging past failures

Mr. Twist acknowledged that the policing of protests over the last eight months, particularly in October, was not handled correctly. He mentioned that arrests should have been made more quickly in certain instances, such as with the protester chanting "jihad".

Increased focus on public rights

A hard-hitting report by Policy Exchange highlighted the failure of police, prosecutors, and courts to prioritize the rights of the public over disruptive demonstrators. Mr. Twist emphasized the importance of identifying reasonable grounds for arrest, acting promptly, and conducting thorough investigations.

Addressing accusations of bias

Mr. Twist also addressed accusations of two-tier policing in how officers handled pro-Palestine protests compared to far-right protests. He explained that policing tactics are based on the level of threat, harm, and risk determined by available information and intelligence.

Protests and spending

Pro-Palestine protests occurred weekly following Hamas attacks in October 2023, resulting in £42.9 million being spent on policing protests in London between October and June.