Zack Polanski is encouraging those who undermine and attack the police by pushing “absurd” policies, an inspector-turned-MP has told GB News.
Jonathan Hinder, who was elected as the Labour MP for Pendle & Clitheroe, spent almost a decade policing London’s streets before entering the House of Commons.
Speaking to GB News after Mr Polanski issued a half-hearted apology over his Golders Green comments, the 35-year-old claimed the Green leader is a “clueless luvvy” who is looking to push “absurd” policies onto forces across England and Wales.
GB News has tracked a series of policies and comments made by Mr Polanski and other Green politicians, including Hannah Spencer’s openness to “abolition” and the 2024 manifesto commitment to end routine stop and search.
“Police officers across the country will be dismayed that the Green Party are more concerned about the welfare of violent criminals than they are about the brave police officers who protect the public,” Mr Hinder said.
“It is extremely worrying the leader of a national party is encouraging this anti-police sentiment, which only encourages those who would undermine and attack our police.”
“The Greens are a joke on policing and crime. Ethnic minority Brits support the professional use of stop and search, in part because it is young black men who are disproportionately the victims of street violence.
“Only clueless luvvies like Polanski and others can afford absurd policies like ‘defunding the police’.”
Zack Polanski faced fury after sharing a post criticising the police | GETTY
Mr Hinder, who voiced confidence in Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood backing police officers, added: “The Tories actually tried that in the 2010s, before realising what a disaster it was and performing a spectacular U-turn.”
The Blue Labour MP rose through the ranks at Scotland Yard, leaving the Metropolitan Police as an inspector in 2022.
He now sits as one of just three current MPs who previously served as police officers.
Mr Hinder, who is spearheading a cross-party push to oppose the NHS trial of puberty blockers for children with Tory MP Rebecca Paul, regularly asks ministers questions about policing, including on austerity-era cuts, stop and search and the suspension of ex-Police Federation chief Rick Prior.
However, GB News’s dossier of Green Party policies and comments about policing have also raised serious concerns.
Met Police has released bodycam footage of the Golders Green terror attack suspect’s arrest | METROPOLITAN POLICE
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley penned an open letter to Mr Polanski in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s Golders Green stabbing attack, accusing the Green Party leader of being “misinformed” after sharing a post appearing to question how officers apprehended a knife-wielding suspect.
Mr Polanski, who criticised Sir Mark’s decision to send a letter, doubled down by arguing the police should not be above scrutiny before offering to meet Scotland Yard’s top officer to discuss footage of the arrest in Golders Green.
The Police Federation also questioned Mr Polanski’s previous interventions on policing matters, with the national staff association writing to the London Assembly Member over his celebratory message to Palestine Action protesters who were acquitted earlier this year.
Mr Polanski defended the six activists by saying “people protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here”.
Labour MP Jonathan Hinder discussed Zack Polanski’s policing comments with GB News
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GB NEWSHowever, after Mr Polanski overlooked the fact a police officer’s spine was fractured with a sledgehammer during the incident, the Police Federation wrote: “While political debate and differing views on protest are entirely legitimate, the serious injury of a police officer during these events went unacknowledged. That omission matters.”
GB News also found examples of other Green Party figures pushing radical changes to the police.
Hannah Spencer, who won the Gorton & Denton by-election in February, admitted she is “really open to hearing and learning more about people’s calls for abolition”.
Kate Nevens, who is running as a Scottish Green for Mr Polanski’s sister party north of the border, echoed Ms Spencer’s call by advocating for the abolition of prisons.
The Greens have been looking to change the law on protests
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PA
Mr Polanski’s radical support for legalising all drugs is also causing concern, particularly given the policy would include the likes of heroin and crack cocaine.
However, the Green Party’s 2024 manifesto also raised concerns about police officers having the power to keep Britain’s streets safe.
The Green Party, which was led by Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsey at the time, vowed to scrap the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Act and Public Order Act.
The manifesto also called for an “end to the routine use of stop and search and to the use of facial recognition software”.
Hannah Spencer even appeared to open the door for the abolition of the police
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GETTYZoe Garbett launched her 2024 London Mayoral Election campaign by echoing such calls, instead vowing to force officers to “de-prioritise stop-and-searches of young people and the policing of drugs”.
A leaked policy document fuelled further fears after it suggested restricting the ability of officers to detain terror suspects from 14 days to just 36 hours for other serious offences.
The policy paper is supposedly focused on activists of organisations that have since been proscribed, including Palestine Action.
GB News has approached the Green Party for comment.