Polanski says police 'should not be above scrutiny' over Golders Green response

Zack Polanski has said people in public service "should not be above scrutiny", after apologising for sharing a critical social media post on the police response to the Golders Green attack.

The Green Party leader said he remains concerned over the actions of police officers who arrested the suspect and added action must be "proportionate no matter how brave".

Communities Secretary Steve Reed said it was "shameful" that Polanski was "still questioning the police's response".

Pressed on whether he believed the police were heavy-handed, Polanski told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: "I was very concerned by what I saw and I remain concerned."

The London Assembly member said he apologised because social media was "not the appropriate forum to have that concern", adding he believed the commissioner's open letter "also wasn't necessarily the appropriate forum".

Polanski said he has asked to speak with Sir Mark about the issue.

After the show was aired, Labour minister Reed said: "Polanski's apology clearly means nothing given he continues to denigrate the actions of our brave police officers."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson, also responding after the show, said: "Polanski's comments today prove that he wasn't apologising at all for the sentiment he shared on social media."

The row came after two Jewish men, Shloime Rand and Moshe Shine, were stabbed in Golders Green, London, on Wednesday.

Essa Suleiman, 45, has been charged with three attempted murders.

He is also accused of attacking Ishmail Hussein, a man he had known for around 20 years, in Southwark, in London, on the same day.

The Golders Green victims have been discharged from hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the attack, which was declared a terror incident by police.

In response to the attack, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called for police to prosecute people chanting "globalise the intifada" during demonstrations, labelling it an example of "extreme racism".

Polanski said he did not agree with Sir Keir's view before saying he would "discourage" the use of the phrase but he is "not interested in trying to police people's language".

He added: "I think it's important that we make sure that we have freedom of speech in this country and freedom of protest."

Polanski, who is Jewish, described himself as pro-Palestinian and someone who "cares about Jewish safety", adding: "There's no conflict in those positions."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the BBC the government is "not talking about an outright ban" on protest but will take "steps that are appropriate to deal with this problem".

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called for a moratorium on pro-Palestinian marches, saying they are "creating a climate that is normalising hatred towards Jews and I think they need to be stopped".

Pressed on whether she would criminalise use of the phrase "globalise the intifada", Badenoch said: "If the prime minister has said that this is something he thinks, then I will support him in that, it's not something I've specifically looked at."

The term intifada came into popular use during the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1987.

Jewish groups have described the term as a call for violence against Jewish people. Pro-Palestinian groups have said it is a call for peaceful resistance to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and actions in Gaza.

In December, the Met and Greater Manchester Police said they would adapt their approach to the slogan in the wake of the attack on a Jewish festival on Australia's Bondi Beach, and arrest those using it in chants or on placards.

Liberal Democrat MP Lisa Smart replied "no" when asked if it was right to look at banning marches, adding: "I think it is right to look at policing marches properly."

Plaid Cymru's Baroness Smith of Llanfaes also disagreed with banning marches, adding activities on them that "go across the line" are a matter for the police.

The SNP's Shirley-Anne Somerville said it was important to respect the rights for protest and free speech and added: "But the rights for free speech are not open-ended and there are laws on inciting hatred."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was scheduled to appear on the Laura Kuenssberg programme but pulled out.