Giving Rowley Rope
It feels like we can hardly go a week without some scandal befalling the Metropolitan Police.
The capital’s police force has become synonymous with corruption, abuses of power and discrimination.
Such failings often date back many years and speak to the institutionalised nature of these problems. In this newsletter, I have covered the Daniel Morgan case from 1987 and only this week, the force has had to, once again, apologise to the mother of Stephen Lawrence.
However, the latest scandal threatens to oust the Commissioner from his job.
After video emerged of an officer suggesting that Gideon Falter, a leading antisemitism campaigner, was a provocation to pro-Palestinian demonstrators by virtue of being “openly Jewish”, calls for the chief to resign have grown. The Campaign Against Antisemitism has led the charge and has since been joined by former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman.
The officer’s comments were clearly unacceptable and deserve a complete apology from the Met, but it is quite a step from this to say that the Commissioner’s position is untenable.
The criticism comes amidst wider concerns that officers are too soft on pro-Palestinian demonstrators. As more protests are planned, there will be greater focus than ever on the words and actions of Met officers.
Even the best police force in the world would struggle to tread this line between protecting public safety and ensuring the right to protest is maintained. Overall, the police are doing a reasonable job given the limited guidance and tools that they are being offered by politicians.
Meanwhile, Rowley and other senior officers are meeting with members from the Jewish community to try and understand what more can be done to make that community feel safe.
As arguments rumble on (including questions about the actions of Falter himself throughout this ordeal) it appears that Rowley will survive with the confidence of the Home Secretary and the Mayor of London intact.
That is a good thing. The Met has a lot of problems, but the Chief Commissioner ought to be given a chance to succeed.
Unfortunately, I did not have time to record an episode of the podcast before venturing down to London this weekend, but hopefully normal service will resume next week.