A former North Wales Police crime chief has reported Suella Braverman to the Metropolitan Police, following her claims of bias towards protests supporting Palestine.
The Home Secretary claimed there is a perception police “play favourites” towards pro-Palestinian protesters who are “largely ignored, even when clearly breaking the law”.
In response, Arfon Jones, who served as North Wales Police and Crime and Commisioner for 2016-2021, says he has reported the Home Secretary to the Met Police, claiming she has used "inflammatory tone and language which has stoked tensions" ahead of a peace protest tomorrow (Saturday) in London.
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In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Jones said: "Had to be done! Reported the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman to the Metropolitan Police: Please tell us what happened, and the events leading up to it, to help us identify if an offence has been committed.
"The Home Secretary Suella Braverman is/has used inflammatory tone and language which has stoked tensions ahead of the Gaza Peace march in Hyde Park, London on the 11th November 2023.
"The rhetoric used is likely to incite others to commit a breach of the peace or worse. Contrary to Section 5, Public Order Act 1936 as amended. Please tell us why you feel race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexuality, disability or religion were a factor in this.
"Palestinians are predominantly Muslim and the rhetoric is aimed at demonising those that support a ceasefire in Gaza and who will be protesting peacefully to this end on Saturday in London."
The Home Office was approached for a response, but said it was "not a matter for the Home Office to comment on."
The Metropolitan Police have been approached for a comment.
Suella Braverman’s future is now in the balance as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, considers how to respond to her article accusing police of bias over protests in support of Palestine, which was not cleared by No 10, reports PA.
The latest inflammatory comment by the Home Secretary prompted frustration and unease among Conservative MPs and sparked calls for the Prime Minister to sack her after she failed to get Number 10 to sign off The Times piece.
Senior officers and the head of the Crown Prosecution Service stressed the need for the police to be able to operate independently without political interreference.
The Home Secretary’s actions have added to the tension around the march planned for Saturday – Armistice Day – by pro-Palestinian groups and the risk of counter-protests, particularly around the Cenotaph, even though the demonstration is not expected to go near the monument.
Mr Sunak will need to decide whether the Home Secretary’s actions breached the ministerial code and, if so, whether he should sack her.
Downing Street was still investigating on Thursday night the “details” about how the article – which contained a widely criticised comparison between “pro-Palestinian mobs” and marches in Northern Ireland – was sent for publication.
It is understood the article was submitted to No 10 but did not get signed off as significant alterations were requested. The piece was published nonetheless.
Opposition parties called on Mr Sunak to sack the Home Secretary, with Labour calling him “spineless” for failing to act. Even some Conservative MPs believe that Mrs Braverman has gone too far.
A Conservative former Cabinet minister told the PA news agency, Mr Sunak should consider dismissing her if he cannot resolve the situation as the row “undermines” the Tory party.
And Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the influential backbench Tory 1922 Committee, suggested “we cannot carry on as we are” with Mrs Braverman as Home Secretary, and Mr Sunak may be forced to act.
But Mrs Braverman has supporters on the right of the party and any move against her by Mr Sunak could deepen divisions within Tory ranks. Tory MP Miriam Cates told Today: “I think the Home Secretary has a view that is very mainstream in the rest of the UK.”
Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said that political views could not be allowed to influence decision making.
“The decisions that we take are not easy ones, but we do so impartially, without fear or favour, and in line with both the law and our authorised professional practice,” he said.
Steve Hartshorn, national chairman of the Police Federation which represents rank and file officers, told Today that officers feared being caught between a rock and a hard place over the pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day.
He said: “I can pretty much guarantee this weekend, if things go different to plan and it’s not safe, it will be police officers that get injured, members of the public, that will then be blamed on the police. We’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.”
Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson wrote in the Telegraph that “effective and fair justice requires independent institutions to apply the law without fear or favour”.
He added: “Throughout this challenging period, the police have undoubtedly carried out their role with independence, resilience and grit.”
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