Sir Mark Rowley Highlights Alternative Models Amid Controversy Over Protest Policing
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has suggested that Northern Ireland-style policing could offer an alternative approach to handling protests in the UK, amid growing criticism over the force’s handling of demonstrations. The suggestion follows recent scrutiny of how the Met has managed pro-Palestine protests, as well as accusations of biased, two-tier policing from both left-wing and right-wing groups.
Rowley’s comments come after a particularly challenging year for the force, which included public calls for his resignation following the release of a video showing an interaction between a Jewish man and a police officer at a pro-Palestine protest last April.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Rowley acknowledged that UK protest laws have generally taken a permissive approach, allowing protests to take place unless there is a substantial risk of violence that the police cannot control. However, he pointed to Northern Ireland as an example of a different legal framework used to regulate protests and parades, particularly in divided communities with a history of sectarian conflict.
“In Northern Ireland, there is a separate legal framework for dealing with marches and parades, involving a Parades Commission that assesses the impact of such events on local communities and seeks to balance the rights of those protesting with the potential for community division,” Rowley explained.
He emphasized, however, that the decision on how to regulate protests should lie with Parliament, not the police, and any significant changes to protest laws would need to be debated and enacted by lawmakers.
Rowley’s comments come at a time of heightened tensions around protest policing in the UK, with questions raised about the balance between maintaining public order and respecting the right to protest. The debate continues to evolve, with Rowley’s call for a reassessment of protest laws likely to influence ongoing discussions.
