Read Mark Rowley’s letter to Zack Polanksi in full as Met Police Commissioner hits back over Golders Green arrest

Britain’s most senior police officer said Zack Polanski’s post about the arrest of the Golders Green terror suspect would have a “chilling effect”.

The Green Party leader retweeted an

But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was “disappointed” in a letter to Mr Polanski, adding that the post was “inaccurate and misinformed”.

Sir Mark said the officers were “nothing short of outstanding” and added: “I dread to think what the outcome might have been had it not been for their efforts to stop him.”

The suspect has been identified as Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old Somali-born British citizen who came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s.

full letter

Dear Zack

I was disappointed to see that your last post about

I am disappointed because it is these types of inaccurate and misinformed comments, coupled with a blithe disregard for the incredibly difficult and dangerous work that police officers do to protect the public, that is contributing to the increased tensions we are seeing in society and eroding the confidence of police officers to act.

It’s entirely possible that the author of the post you’re retweeting has direct experience on the scene or has years of experience dealing with complex, violent situations.[s]. However, I suspect the more likely scenario is this: [are] another armchair critic who thinks they can probably do the job more effectively than the brave officers who successfully detained that person.

These officers are nothing short of outstanding. They arrived on scene within minutes and their actions undoubtedly prevented further injuries and saved lives. As I said yesterday, the police confronted a dangerous man they believed to be a terrorist, who refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat. They were not armed officers and feared he was hiding an explosive device.

Using only their training, equipment, and considerable courage and bravery, they took him into custody while he continued to attack and stab them. I dread to think what the outcome might have been had it not been for their efforts to stop him.

Catching violent and dangerous criminals is a full-contact, complex task that can seem shocking to observers with little experience of real-world policing.

London’s Jewish community is afraid. They have experienced a series of targeted attacks on the community and they expect our officers to step in and protect them. That’s exactly what our police did yesterday. Your decision to use your public profile and reach to criticize these officers will have a chilling effect.

Officers need to know they will be supported when they take decisive action to protect Londoners. Officers know they need to be accountable for their use of force, and there are processes in place to make that happen. Using your public profile to question their actions hours after the terrorist incident is not appropriate.

Freedom of expression is an important aspect of a democratic society. We both agree on this. However, in an environment of global instability and rising tensions, the correct approach in this situation is to show compassion, reduce tensions, and not further escalate tensions by reinforcing the ‘us vs. them’ discourse.

We have significantly increased our activities in the capital in recent weeks and have seen communities come together to reject hate and violence in the hours and days following the attack in Golders Green three weeks ago.

This solidarity is important and right now we need politicians and community leaders to be at the forefront of this issue, not only condemning horrific attacks but also taking the lead in combating antisemitism and tolerant rhetoric, de-escalating tensions and supporting those willing to intervene to protect and reassure the public.

Sir Mark Rowley