‘Openly Jewish’ charity boss says Met boss needs to quit

The antisemitism campaigner who was told he was ‘openly Jewish’ at a pro-Palestine protest has said Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley needs to resign.

Campaign Against Antisemitism leader Gideon Falter had been wearing a kippah skull cap when he was prevented from crossing the road near the demonstration in the Aldwych area of London earlier this month.

A Met officer was filmed telling 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.’

The remarks have sparked backlash and Mr Falter has now told Good Morning Britain: ‘I think he needs to resign. The change the Met needs has to come from the top. He’s had six months to get a grip of this and he’s failed.’

Mr Falter’s remarks come on the same day Sir Mark is expected to attend a ‘crisis’ meeting with London mayor Sadiq Khan – who said over the weekend he ‘has confidence’ in Sir Mark.

As mayor, Mr Khan has the ability to fire Sir Mark, but can only do so with the permission of the home secretary.

Mr Falter appeared on Good Morning Britain today (Picture: Shutterstock)

The officer’s comments were caught on camera (Picture: Campaign Against Antisemitism)

Sir Mark Rowley has come under fire for the incident (Picture: PA)

Mr Falter elaborated on the encounter: ‘I was just being Jewish. I was trying to walk around on the street, I was trying to cross the road.

‘This officer’s comment about being disingenuous comes after he realises that he has seriously messed up by saying ”by being openly Jewish you are provoking people, you are antagonising people and I’m going to arrest you if you stay here”.

‘So once people had whipped out smartphones he starts saying I was disingenuous. There aren’t many ways to cross a road, you just cross a road. And the entire idea I was trying to provoke something – how?

‘I wasn’t wearing a badge, I didn’t have a sign, I wasn’t waving a flag or shouting a slogan. I was just walking around with my kippah on after synagogue and had a small bag which you have a prayer shawl in which has a small Star of David on.

‘It was a Saturday in London and people were crossing every which-way. Because I was Jewish I couldn’t.’

A spokesperson for the London mayor said: ‘Everybody must feel safe going about in London wherever they please. The way the original incident was dealt with by the Met was concerning and the original response put out by them was insensitive and wrong.

‘The Met have an extremely difficult job – particularly so when it comes to operational decisions taken while policing marches.

‘But in the end the Met must have the confidence of the communities they serve and it is right that they have apologised for the way the incident was handled and their original public response.’

The Met did apologise for the officer’s remarks, which was welcomed by the Home Office, who said: ‘We welcome the Met Police’s apology, and recognise the complexities of policing fast-moving public protests, but simply being Jewish – or of any other race or religion – should never be seen as provocative.

‘Anyone of any religion should be free to go about their lives and feel safe doing so.’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was reportedly ‘appalled’ after seeing the footage of the Met officer’s interaction with Mr Falter.

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