Scotland Yard has has had to apologise twice after an officer prevented an antisemitism campaigner from crossing a road near a pro-Palestinian march because they were "openly Jewish".
A video showed an officer using the term while speaking to Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, who was wearing a kippah skull cap near the demonstration in the Aldwych area of London on the afternoon of Saturday 13 April.
Issuing an initial apology on behalf of the Metropolitan Police, assistant commissioner Matt Twist said the officer's use of the phrase was "hugely regrettable", but suggested Mr Falter's presence had been "provocative" and the release of the footage would "further dent the confidence of many Jewish Londoners".
But the response prompted further criticism, with Mr Falter accusing the force of "victim-blaming" and arguing it was "the right of every Jew" to walk freely around London.
In the face of a backlash, the Met subsequently deleted the statement and issued a further apology for the offence caused.
It stated: "The use of the term 'openly Jewish' by one of our officers is hugely regrettable.
"We know it will have caused offence to many. We reiterate our apology."
The force added: "We have reflected on the strength of the response to our previous statement.
"In an effort to make a point about the policing of protest we have caused further offence.
"This was never our intention.
"We have removed that statement and we apologise.
"Being Jewish is not a provocation. Jewish Londoners must be able to feel safe in this city.
"Our commitment to protecting the public extends to all communities across London.
"It's important that our public statements reflect that more clearly than they did today."
Read more from Sky News:
Police investigate Joey Barton tweets
Ex-model almost died trying to cure cancer with juice diet
Painting stolen in Oxford raid found in Romania
Mr Falter said he had been walking in the capital after attending a synagogue and was not there to counter-protest as he walked past the demonstration last Saturday.
The video clip showed one police officer saying to him: "You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march, I'm not accusing you of anything, but I'm worried about the reaction to your presence."
In the clip, another officer said to him: "There's a unit of people here now.
"You will be escorted out of this area so you can go about your business, go where you want freely or if you choose to remain here, because you are causing a breach of peace with all these other people, you will be arrested."
The officer said Mr Falter's presence was "antagonising".
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
The antisemitism campaigner said after the incident: "Despite being told repeatedly that London is safe for Jews when these marches are taking place, my interactions with police officers last Saturday show that the Met believes that being openly Jewish will antagonise the anti-Israel marchers and that Jews need protection, which the police cannot guarantee.
"Instead of addressing that threat of antisemitic violence, the Met's policy instead seems 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."
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Tap hereA government source said: "These reports are concerning and unacceptable.
"British Jews should be free to walk about their lives freely without intimidation or restriction, and the police have a vital role in making sure that is a reality.
"As we have shown with the largest ever funding package for security, we won't hesitate to take action to support and protect our Jewish communities."
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters had gathered in London last Saturday to call for a ceasefire and urge the government to stop all arms sales to Israel.
Crowds waved Palestinian flags, chanted "free Palestine" and held signs calling for a "ceasefire now".
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9tZXQtcG9saWNlLWFwb2xvZ2lzZXMtZm9yLXVzaW5nLXBocmFzZS1vcGVubHktamV3aXNoLWFzLWFudGlzZW1pdGlzbS1jYW1wYWlnbmVyLWFjY3VzZXMtZm9yY2Utb2YtdmljdGltLWJsYW1pbmctMTMxMTg3MTTSAZcBaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL21ldC1wb2xpY2UtYXBvbG9naXNlcy1mb3ItdXNpbmctcGhyYXNlLW9wZW5seS1qZXdpc2gtYXMtYW50aXNlbWl0aXNtLWNhbXBhaWduZXItYWNjdXNlcy1mb3JjZS1vZi12aWN0aW0tYmxhbWluZy0xMzExODcxNA?oc=5
2024-04-19 23:20:08Z
CBMikwFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9tZXQtcG9saWNlLWFwb2xvZ2lzZXMtZm9yLXVzaW5nLXBocmFzZS1vcGVubHktamV3aXNoLWFzLWFudGlzZW1pdGlzbS1jYW1wYWlnbmVyLWFjY3VzZXMtZm9yY2Utb2YtdmljdGltLWJsYW1pbmctMTMxMTg3MTTSAZcBaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnNreS5jb20vc3RvcnkvYW1wL21ldC1wb2xpY2UtYXBvbG9naXNlcy1mb3ItdXNpbmctcGhyYXNlLW9wZW5seS1qZXdpc2gtYXMtYW50aXNlbWl0aXNtLWNhbXBhaWduZXItYWNjdXNlcy1mb3JjZS1vZi12aWN0aW0tYmxhbWluZy0xMzExODcxNA
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar