War of words over 'two-tier policing

PRESSURE was mounting on Sir Keir Starmer yesterday as claims that the police have a "two-tier" approach to the way they handle riots by the far-Right and Islamist extremists refused to die down.

- Christian Calgie

The Prime Minister has dismissed allegations that opposing groups are treated differently when violence erupts at protests as a "non-issue".

But Robert Jenrick waded into the war of words and insisted police and politicians must not be "selective" when they "call out violence".

The Tory leadership contender also criticised the Metropolitan Police's handling of pro-Palestine protests, held across the UK since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.

He said: "I thought it was quite wrong that someone could shout 'Allahhu Akbar' on the streets of London and not be immediately arrested, or project genocidal chants on to Big Ben and... not be arrested.

That attitude is wrong!" The former Home Office minister also accused the PM of failing to be "clear" that violence is coming from "sectarian gangs" as well as the farRight and said Sir Keir "made a mistake" by not handling all forms of violence with "equal treatment".

Violence

"We mustn't be squeamish or selective in how we call out violence," Mr Jenrick told Times Radio.

"I think the Prime Minister has not been as clear as he could be about the fact that, whilst the...overwhelming majority of the incidents that we've seen have emanated either from the far-Right or from a range of thugs and criminals who've chosen to take part in these events, there are ...a much smaller number of sectarian gangs who have been causing disruption, violence and intimidation."

Mr Jenrick's comments drew criticism from hard-Left MPs and sparked allegations of Islamophobia.