Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley has directly thanked Britons for standing up for the two officers who responded to a stabbing attack in Golders Green after Green Party leader Zack Polanski shared a critical post on social media.
Appearing on GB News this morning, Sir Mark revealed Scotland Yard received praise from Britons in response to the body camera footage and his open letter to Mr Polanski.
He said: “I am really grateful for the support of Britons who have, both in response to the body-worn footage released and in response to my letter, have been so effusive and assertive in their support for what those officers did.”
The two officers apprehended Somali-born British national Essa Suleiman, who has since been charged with three counts of attempted murder, by using Tasers and later kicking the knife-clutching suspect.
Mr Polanski sparked outrage on social media after sharing a post accusing the officers of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated”.
When asked about the Green Party leader’s comments this morning, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner told GB News: “They were very rough with him, but that was required in that sort of situation.
“It’s hard, unless you’ve been in those situations, and very few people have, to know how difficult and challenging it is when you’re dealing with someone who is non-compliant, who still possesses a knife, who you believe to be a terrorist, and who may possess explosive devices.
“It is completely understandable that, in the heat of that moment, you’re going to use some force.”
Sir Mark Rowley discussed the incident with GB News this morning
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GB NEWS
Sir Mark stressed he is interested in operational policing rather than politics.
He added: “To succeed in that, I need to ensure that the men and women I am privileged to lead have the confidence to act when they rush towards danger.”
“While there will always be eccentricities, inaccuracies and nonsense online, if an eminent person steps forward into operational policing with inaccuracies and challenges things in a way that can undermine that trust, I need to speak up for those officers.”
Mr Polanski, who is yet to directly address Sir Mark’s letter, said the attack in Golders Green was “horrendous”.
Sir Mark Rowley wrote a letter to the Green Party leader last night
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METROPOLITAN POLICE
The Green Party leader, who is himself Jewish, was also condemned after he recently suggested it is important to distinguish between the actual threat of antisemitic attacks and the “perception of unsafety”.
In his letter to Mr Polanski, Sir Mark wrote: “I was disappointed to have seen your recent post on X amplifying a post that Met officers were ‘repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by a taser’.
“I am disappointed because it is this kind of inaccurate and misinformed commentary – with its associated casual disregard for the incredibly challenging and dangerous work police officers do to protect the public – that is contributing to the rising tensions we are seeing in society and undermines officers’ confidence to act.
“It is entirely possible the author of the post you retweeted had direct experience from the scene, or has years of experience handling complex, violent situations.
Zack Polanski faced fury after sharing a post criticising the police
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GETTY“Yet I suspect the more likely scenario is that they are another armchair critic who thinks they could do the job, possibly more effectively than the brave officers who successfully detained that individual.
“Those officers are nothing short of extraordinary. They were on the scene within a few minutes and their actions undoubtedly prevented further injury and saved lives.
“As I said yesterday, the officers confronted a dangerous man, they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, who was violent, and who continued to pose a clear threat.
“They were not armed officers, and they feared he was concealing an explosive device.”
Two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green | PA
Appearing on GB News this morning, Scotland Yard’s top officer welcomed the decision to add 300 officers to the Metropolitan Police’s payroll.
He said: “I need to ensure that the men and women I’m privileged to lead have the confidence to act as they rush towards danger and I need finances to do that.”
Sir Mark also explained the increase in police presence in predominantly Jewish areas of London has been warmly received by community leaders, particularly in North West London.
However, Sir Mark also suggested the additional 300 officers should be a first step, adding: “I’m pleased that we’re having urgent conversations about how to build that up into something that will give that protection that’s necessary.”
Responding to Sir Mark’s letter, a Green Party spokesman said: “Zack has seen the video like everyone else and doesn’t know the full picture and knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities, but we do need to understand more about the response.”