Starmer Condemns Polanski Over Police Criticism Post
Keir Starmer has described as “disgraceful” and unfit to lead a political party the action of Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who shared a social media post critical of police conduct during the arrest of a suspect involved in the Golders Green stabbings.
The prime minister stated that any criticism directed at the officers involved in the arrest was unfair, given they had to make rapid decisions amid a potentially life-threatening situation.
Police were recorded detaining the suspect following the stabbing of two Jewish individuals in the north-west London suburb on Wednesday. Video footage circulated online shows two officers appearing to kick the man on or near his head.
Polanski retweeted a post on X, without adding comment, which alleged that officers were “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head” after he had already been incapacitated by a stun gun.
Starmer’s Interview and Police Context
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, scheduled to air on Saturday morning, Starmer explained that police might have believed the suspect’s rucksack contained an explosive device.
“I don’t know what was going through the mind of those officers, but if I was there, I’d be thinking: ‘He’s going to detonate something. He’s going to blow me up and everybody around here.’ And in those circumstances, I think you can quite see why what could have gone through their mind is: ‘We need to do whatever we can to disable this guy,’” Starmer said.
“You have to make a decision in that split moment according to the situation as you understand it to be. And for politicians to wade in, as did, is disgraceful. He’s not fit to lead any political party.”
Polanski subsequently apologised for sharing the tweet, stating he did so “in haste.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Responds
Starmer’s remarks followed a letter from Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, which described the claim as “inaccurate and misinformed commentary.” Rowley praised the officers involved as “nothing short of extraordinary,” adding:
“Without their efforts to stop him, I dread to think what the outcome could have been.”
Rowley later told the BBC that his letter was not intended as a political intervention, but rather a defence of operational policing and his officers to maintain their confidence in protecting Londoners.
“Officers need confidence in confronting these dangerous people, and if an eminent person thoughtlessly steps into that and undermines that, then I’m going to deal with that.”
Concerns Over Resources and Protests
In additional interviews on Friday, Rowley expressed that his force requires more resources to safeguard Jewish communities. He also voiced concern about the potential scale of two protest marches planned in London during May.
Calls for Apology from Other Political Leaders
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, and Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also urged Polanski to apologise. Badenoch remarked:
“If someone Zack Polanski loved had just been stabbed, I don’t think he would be worried about how the police were disarming that person.”
Polanski’s Statement and Additional Remarks
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, Polanski apologised for sharing the post, saying:
“Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature at a time of such tension, and I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste.
Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so. I have invited to meet with me to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised in his letter.”
He also noted in a separate social media post that during a campaign visit to Hastings, East Sussex, a group of protesters directed Nazi salutes at him. He added:
“Today the prime minister uses his office to attack the only Jewish party leader to score political points.”
Context of Rising Antisemitism and Hate Crime
The controversy arose as Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions for England and Wales, pledged to address hate crimes decisively amid a “deeply troubling rise in antisemitic incidents across the country.”
In a statement on Friday, Parkinson acknowledged the “profound fear, distress and anger” experienced by Jewish communities and stated:
“Antisemitic hate crime is not only an attack on individuals – it is an attack on the values of respect, tolerance and the rule of law that underpin our society.
Let me be clear: those who commit antisemitic crimes will be held accountable. The Crown Prosecution Service will use the full force of the law to ensure those responsible are prosecuted robustly and swiftly, and justice is done.”
Charges Against Suspect
Essa Suleiman, 45, was charged on Friday with the attempted murders of three people during two knife attacks in London on Wednesday. These incidents include the Golders Green stabbing and an alleged attack related to a personal dispute in south London.
