Dean Godson

Why does the Met prioritise Palestine marchers over Londoners?

A police officer stands guard in Trafalgar Square during a 'march for Palestine' (Credit: Getty images)

If you want an illustration of one of the things that is wrong with the Metropolitan Police, you need only look at how some of the best known streets in central London were yet again handed over to protestors this past weekend – including allies and apologists of Hamas. This is the price which the Met’s leadership seems to be willing to pay to keep things quiet in the capital.  

Over recent months, these supposedly peaceful demonstrations have included a range of individuals throwing flares, shouting antisemitic chants ‘from the river to the sea’ and calling for there to be a ‘Jihad’. Despite these incidents, there’s a lot of satisfaction with this outcome in the senior command levels at New Scotland Yard. But is their self-confidence justified?

One incident last Saturday appears to encapsulate the Met’s flawed approach

In Northern Ireland, thanks to the Parades Commission, there are extensive limits to the ‘marching season’.

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