Rishi Sunak reveals 'shock' at video of Met Police officer's confrontation with Jewish man

Rishi Sunak was “shocked” by footage of an officer describing a campaigner as "openly Jewish".

He also demanded that forces “not just manage" protests gripping the nation but "police them".

Speaking to journalists on a plane to Poland, he said: “I was shocked to see that footage over the weekend, as I’m sure many people were.

“The police have got to not just manage these protests, they’ve got to police them. That’s a point I made when I spoke from the steps of Downing Street about this, I think last month.”

Sir Mark Rowley admitted some of the words exchanged during the incident on April 13 were “clumsy and offensive” but confirmed the officers involved would not be sanctioned.

Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), was threatened with arrest for breaching the peace by the officers policing the protest in central London, with one describing Mr Falter, who was wearing a kippah, as “openly Jewish”.

Mr Sunak said: “People are seeing scenes like that that they don’t understand, they don’t think are acceptable and that they think undermine the values that are important to us as a country and society.

“My expectation is that the Met Commissioner regains the trust and confidence of the Jewish community and the public more broadly when it comes to how these protests are being policed and not just managed.”

Sir Mark has faced calls to resign from Mr Falter and former home secretary Suella Braverman.

Before meeting Home Secretary James Cleverly on Monday, said: “The sergeant at the scene clearly assessed that there was a risk of confrontation and was trying to help Mr Falter find a different route.

“I completely understand why the sergeant made this assessment. A couple of turns of phrase were clumsy and offensive … and we’ve apologised for that.

“The wider actions and intent of the officer were professional and in the best tradition of British police trying to prevent disorder.”

The commissioner said the officer was correct to stop Mr Falter after fearing there was danger of violence or disorder if direct contact with the pro-Palestinian marchers was made.

Standing outside No 10 in March, the Prime Minister condemned what he called “a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality” after the October 7 massacre by Hamas and the Israeli invasion of Gaza.

He also used the Downing Street statement to warn that extremist groups in the UK are “trying to tear us apart”.