Met Police Admit Errors in Pro-Palestine Protest Handling, Report Reveals

Matt Twist, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has acknowledged shortcomings in the force's initial response to pro-Palestine protests. In an interview with Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank, Twist admitted that the police "didn't get everything right - particularly in the early stages in October" of last year.

One of the key issues highlighted was the delayed arrest of demonstrators shouting "jihad". Twist explained that this decision was made following rapid legal consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). However, he emphasized that police tactics have since evolved to be more responsive and decisive.

"We are now much more focussed on identifying reasonable grounds for arrest, acting where needed, and then investigating, so in these circumstances it's very likely arrests would be made more quickly now."

The Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for law enforcement in Greater London, has faced criticism for its handling of the protests. However, Twist refuted accusations of "two-tier or differential policing", asserting that the force maintains neutrality regarding protest causes and bases its tactics on threat assessment and available intelligence.

The Policy Exchange report, published today, reveals significant impacts of protests on public behavior and city accessibility. Over two-thirds of surveyed adults indicated they would avoid city centers during major demonstrations, especially when accompanied by children, elderly, or disabled relatives. This phenomenon has effectively created "no-go" zones in areas targeted for protests.

The report also disclosed the substantial cost of policing these protests. Between October 2023 and June 2024, the Metropolitan Police spent £42.9 million on protest management, diverting over 51,000 police officer shifts from addressing other crime issues in London, such as knife crime and violence against women.

To address these challenges, the report offers more than 20 recommendations. These include granting police greater powers to prohibit protests when there's a risk of serious public disorder and requiring protesters to provide 28 days' notice for demonstrations. These suggestions aim to balance the right to protest, protected under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, with the need to maintain public safety and minimize disruption.

The UK government has already taken steps to address protest-related issues, such as introducing the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. However, the ongoing debate highlights the complex task of managing large-scale demonstrations in a city of over 9 million people, where social media has significantly impacted the organization and scale of modern protests.

As the Metropolitan Police, with its workforce of over 43,000 officers and staff, continues to refine its approach to public order policing, the challenge remains to effectively balance the rights of protesters with those of the general public, ensuring safety and minimizing disruption in one of the world's most vibrant and diverse cities.