London Police Chief Calls for Clarity on Handling Extremism at Protests
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by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff
Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, October 28, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Susannah Ireland/File Photo
Britain’s most senior police officer said on Sunday he would support a review into the legal definition of extremism in response to criticism of the way his officers handled pro-Palestinian protests in London.
Antisemitic incidents have surged in Britain since a deadly rampage by Hamas terrorists in Israel on Oct. 7, and Israel’s subsequent air strikes on Gaza since then, with massive pro-Palestinian demonstrations held in London and other major UK cities, and vigils by Jewish groups in solidarity with hostages who were taken by the militants.
Some British politicians have criticized London‘s police after they failed to arrest people at a pro-Palestinian rally shouting “jihad”. The police later said the phrase could have a number of meanings, concluding no offense had taken place.
Mark Rowley, head of London‘s Metropolitan Police force, said his officers would “ruthlessly” arrest anyone who commits a hate crime, but there could only be prosecutions when the law is broken.
“There is scope to be much sharper in how we deal with extremism within this country,” he told Sky News. “The law was never designed to deal with extremism, there’s a lot to do with terrorism and hate crime but we don’t have a body of law that deals with extremism and that is creating a gap.”
Ministers are reviewing the legal definition of extremism in a move designed to counter hate crimes, including antisemitism, according to one government official. This work began with the attacks in Israel, the official said since Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, in the US and Europe, putting Jews on alert worldwide.
The government is also examining potential changes to terrorism legislation, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, which is responsible for examining the legal definition of extremism, declined to comment.
