Polanski apologises after sharing critique of Met response to Golders Green attack
Polanski apologises after sharing critique of Met response to Golders Green attack
Green Party leader Polanski apologises for a post criticising police handling of the Golders Green incident as Met Chief Rowley defends officers and calls for caution on social media.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski apologised after sharing an 'inaccurate' post criticizing the Metropolitan Police's response to the Golders Green attack, drawing bipartisan backlash. The Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley condemned the post as inaccurate and misguided, saying it undermined officers at a tense moment. The backlash crossed party lines, with Keir Starmer calling Polanski's actions disgraceful and the prime minister noting the difficult judgments officers face on the ground.
Polanski said in a statement that leadership means lowering tensions at times of heightened emotion, and he apologises for sharing a tweet in haste. He added that while police responses to emergencies deserve later reflection in the right forums, social media is not the appropriate channel. He also invited Sir Mark Rowley to meet to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised in his Thursday night letter.
Sir Mark Rowley described Polanski's post as misinformed and said it amounted to undermining the force. The commissioner called Polanski's action a rare misstep and defended the officers who detained the suspect in Golders Green.
Across the political spectrum, the episode sparked debate about accountability and how politicians critique policing in public forums, especially during sensitive incidents. The episode serves as a reminder of the power—and danger—of social media in crisis moments.
With tensions high and investigations ongoing, the incident continues to fuel discussions about media responsibility, leadership duties, and the balance between scrutiny and support for frontline officers.
