The Met Police have apologized after an officer said an anti-Semitism charity leader looked “overtly Jewish” when he was threatened with arrest for being near a pro-Palestinian march.
Gideon Falter was wearing a yarmulke when he was arrested in the Aldwych area of London on Saturday.
Police told him his presence was a “breach of the peace”, in a video posted online.
Scotland Yard apologized for the officer’s statement.
The force subsequently withdrew its original statement, after “considering the strength of the response”, and issued a second apology for causing further offense.
Mr Falter, director of Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), said he had been walking around the capital after visiting the synagogue and was not there to stage counter-protests.
In footage of the police officers speaking to Mr Falter, posted online by the charity, one officer said Mr Falter would be arrested if he remained at the scene. In response, Mr Falter has accused the Met of creating “no-go zones” for Jewish people.
In the video, a police officer said: “You are very openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march. I’m not accusing you of anything, but I’m concerned about the reaction to your presence.”
Another officer said, “You are being escorted out of this area so that you can go about your business, go freely wherever you want or, if you choose to stay here because you are causing a breach of the peace with all these other people, you will be arrested.”
The clip showed the officer saying Mr Falter’s presence was “antagonistic”.
‘No-go zones’
Mr Falter said: “Despite being repeatedly told that London is safe for Jews when these marches take place, my interactions with police officers last Saturday show that the Met believes that being openly Jewish will antagonize anti-Israel protesters and that Jews need protection need. , which the police cannot guarantee.
“Rather than tackling the threat of anti-Semitic violence, the Met’s policy instead appears 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.”
In the apology statement first issued, Met Assistant Police Commissioner Matt Twist said: “The video posted by the Campaign Against Antisemitism will further erode the confidence of many Jewish Londoners, which is the opposite of what we all want.
“The use of the term ‘openly Jewish’ by one of our officers is deeply regrettable. It is absolutely not the basis on which we make decisions, it was a poor choice of words and although unintentional, we know it will have been offensive to many. Our apologies.
‘Horrible accusation from the victim’
“In recent weeks we have seen a new trend emerge, with those opposed to the main protests appearing along the route to express their views,” he added.
‘The fact that those who do this often film themselves doing so suggests that they need to know that their presence is provocative, that they are provoking a reaction and that they are increasing the likelihood of an altercation.
‘They also make it much more likely that officers will intervene. They do this not to suppress freedom of expression or to limit the right to protest, but to keep opposing groups apart, to prevent disorder and to protect the public – including those participating in or opposing the protest – safe.”
The CAA responded to these comments by saying the Met was guilty of “abhorrent, despicable victim blaming”.
“What is ‘provocative’ is telling a Jewish Londoner that his presence will ‘antagonise’ the crowd and that he will be arrested unless he leaves,” the charity said.
After the CAA released its statement, the Met issued its second apology.
The force said: “We have considered the strength of the response to our previous statement. In an effort to make a point about the policing of protests, we have caused even more violations.
“This was never our intention… and we apologize.
‘Being Jewish is not a provocation. Jewish Londoners should feel safe in this city.
“Our commitment to protecting the public extends to all communities in London. It is important that our public statements reflect that more clearly than they do today.”
Mr Falter also says in the video footage that he plans to attend a CAA event when the next pro-Palestinian protest is planned in the capital, adding that no part of London should be unsafe.
Police said they were happy to meet anyone who wanted to organize a march or protest.
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in London last Saturday to call for a ceasefire and urge the British government to halt all arms sales to Israel.
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