Metropolitan Police faces fresh questions over crackdown on pro-Palestine protest

The London Metropolitan Police is facing increasing calls for scrutiny over its handling of a pro-Palestine demonstration earlier this month, which saw dozens of protesters arrested. More than 50 MPs and peers have written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, calling for a government inquiry into the police action during the January 18 protest.

In their letter, the MPs expressed their "deep unease" at the barriers set up by police ahead of the demonstration and were "appalled" by comments made by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who said his department had "imposed unprecedented restrictions" on the protest. They also called for the repeal of anti-protest legislation passed by the previous government, which is currently being legally challenged by civil liberties movement “Liberty.”

Signatories of the letter include Labour MPs Diane Abbott, Clive Lewis, and Ian Lavery, Green MPs Sian Berry and Carla Denyer, as well as independent MPs Zarah Sultana, Shaukat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, and Imran Hussain. Separately, a number of trade unions also wrote to Cooper on Friday, demanding an investigation into the "repressive and heavy-handed policing" of the event.

The unions stated in their letter: “As trade union members, we know all too well that heavy-handed policing, and the subsequent construction of a false media narrative, is often used as a pretext for undermining our democratic rights to demonstrate and take industrial action.” Both letters questioned the Metropolitan Police’s account of events, after police blamed protesters for breaking through cordons between Whitehall and Trafalgar Square. Organizers dispute this, saying protesters were invited by police to be "filtered" into Trafalgar Square, and accused police of "heavy-handed and aggressive enforcement."

More than 70 people were arrested on the day of the protest, including the demonstration’s steward, Chris Nineham. Nineham has been charged with public order offenses and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 13. Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), has also been charged with public order offenses and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on February 21. Pro-Palestine demonstrations have been frequent in central London since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, often attracting tens of thousands of people.

This week, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Matt Twist, also faced concerns about the police’s handling of the protest at a hearing of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee. Questioning Twist, Green Party Assembly Member, Zoë Garbett said: “I have heard from over 150 attendees who have reported the use of violence by police against children, pregnant women and elderly people.” Garbett stated that people complained they were arrested without warning and were “misled” by police. She argued that police had overused “kettling” tactics to confine protesters in Trafalgar Square.

Twist responded: “I’m not sure I recognise that description.” He added: “If there are any concerns that officers have moved too quickly, or approached people without any warning, we will look at that. I don’t think that was the case.” Garbett subsequently wrote to Rowley, stating that protesters told her they faced an “incredibly hostile atmosphere” created by police. She wrote: “The behaviour of the Met at this demonstration was a gross abuse of power and a clear attempt to intimidate and suppress legitimate protest.”

Human rights organizations and legal experts have previously also called for an inquiry into the police’s handling of protests. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told Middle East Eye: “The specific circumstances of the movement of protesters from Whitehall to Trafalgar Square will form part of an ongoing investigation into the protest. At this stage, it would be inappropriate to pre-judge the outcome of those inquiries by commenting further.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “The right to protest is a fundamental part of our democracy. The use of public order powers is an operational matter for the police, who are independent from government in their actions.”