Braverman criticised by watchdog over public condemnation of protest policing

Former home secretary Suella Braverman has been criticised by a watchdog for publicly condemning the Metropolitan Police over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests in the capital.

The Conservative MP wrote a scathing article in the Times last November accusing the force of “double standards for allowing what she deemed a “hate march” to go ahead in London on Armistice Day, claiming right-wing protesters were “rightly met with a stern response”, while pro-Palestinian “mobs” were “largely ignored”.

The Met stood by its decision to let the march go ahead as the legal threshold for a ban had not been met, but the public furore ended in ugly scenes, with a far-right protest at the Cenotaph and a total of 140 arrests from both demonstrations.

Ms Braverman – who was later sacked by Rishi Sunak after she doubled down on her criticism – ordered a report into “activism and impartiality in the police” at the time.

But when it was published on Tuesday, it took aim at her actions, saying her criticism should have been delivered in private.

Chief inspector of constabulary Andy Cooke, who led the review, set out the scenes around the Armistice Day protests, before concluding: “Forces and politicians alike should pay close attention to the risk of any improper political interference.

“This includes the risk of actual interference or perceived interference, whether that perception is accurate or not. Usually, such an intervention, if deemed appropriate, should be done in private.”

Mr Cooke said there was a “delicate balance to strike” between the operational independence of chief constables and the need of accountability and governance.

But he said senior officers had reported “improper pressure or interference from significant political figures”, and the review found “overt attempts to influence operational policing challenge the police’s impartiality and could reduce public trust”.

The chief inspector called for police chiefs, police and crime commissioners, mayors and senior politicians to “pay close attention to the risk posed by improper political interference, whether actual or perceived”.

The report also pointed to an incident involving Mr Sunak, where he said he was “appalled” by the treatment of a Jewish man by a police officer in a video from a pro-Palestinian protest, only to back the force nine days later after a longer clip came to light with further context.

The report said: “Senior politicians should take great care to make sure they are in possession of the full facts before making public statements that can have a detrimental effect on the public perception of police impartiality.”

A government spokesperson said: “Our police officers face challenges every single day and act without fear or favour to keep our streets safe, and it is vital they are supported.

“The government strongly supports operational independence, which is the bedrock of our policing model. We welcome the report and will work closely with policing to consider the recommendations.”

The Conservative Party and Ms Braverman have been contacted for comment.