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Jewish leaders demand meeting with Met Police chief after 'high-profile errors'

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Jewish leaders demand meeting with Met Police chief after
Jewish leaders demand meeting with Met Police chief after 'high-profile errors'

Jewish leaders have demanded an urgent meeting with the head of the Met Police after a "series of high-profile errors".

Sir Mark Rowley is under pressure after both the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman called for his removal. But Government minister Claire Coutinho said she did not think Sir Mark should resign as Met Commissioner.

It comes as the Board of Deputies of British Jews called for a meeting to discuss a "grievous loss of confidence". The Met has come under fire after the CAA shared footage of chief executive Gideon Falter being described as "openly Jewish" by a police officer.

Jewish leaders demand meeting with Met Police chief after 'high-profile errors' qhidddidqihtprwCAA chief executive Gideon Falter has called on the Met chief to go after his exchange with an officer

In the clip, another officer told Mr Falter he would be arrested if he did not leave the area because he was "causing a breach of peace with all these other people" as his presence was "antagonising". The Met has since apologised.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has also written to the Met and London Mayor Sadiq Khan about the incident. In a statement the Board of Deputies said some demonstrators had used pro-Palestine protests to "amplify hideous antisemitic conspiracy theories" since October 7. It said: "The Metropolitan Police has made a series of high-profile errors in their responses to these demonstrations.

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"The entirely avoidable mistakes have had a devastating effect on the previously high level of trust held by the UK's Jewish community in the police. We have written to the Commissioner to ask for an urgent meeting to reinforce the gravity of the situation and to begin to repair this grievous loss of confidence."

It comes after Mr Falter called on Sir Mark to resign or be sacked. He said: "Racists, extremists and terrorist sympathisers have watched the excuses and inertia of the Met under his command and been emboldened by his inaction at precisely the moment when he should be signalling a renewed determination to crack down on this criminality.

"What the Met under Sir Mark has done to the Jewish community over the course of six months is utterly unforgivable and it is time for him to go. Enough is enough."

Do you think Sir Mark Rowley should step down? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.

But Energy Security Secretary Ms Coutino told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg: "I personally wouldn't go that far because I haven't had the conversations with him. I don't understand yet what he's going to say to the Home Secretary, those conversations need to take place.

"But I think it is really important that we stand by the Jewish community, and other communities as well, and say we will not stand for this, this is not what equality means in society today."

Sir Mark said: "Every member of the Met is determined to ensure that London is a city in which everyone feels safe. We absolutely understand how vulnerable Jewish and Muslim Londoners feel since the terrorist attacks on Israel.

"Some of our actions have increased this concern. I personally reiterate our apology from earlier this week. Today, as with every other day, our officers will continue to police with courage, empathy and impartiality."

Dave Burke

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