Met chief defends force for not arresting chanters of ‘jihad’ at anti-Israel protest

Mark Rowley says laws should be changed if politicians want tougher action taken

The Metropolitan police commissioner has hit back at criticism of his force’s decision not to makes arrests after shouts of “jihad” at an anti-Israel protest, declaring that the police cannot enforce “taste and decency” and laws should be changed if politicians want tougher action taken.

Mark Rowley was speaking after meeting home secretary Suella Braverman on Monday, with the senior politician demanding answers on why police did not arrest those responsible for chanting “jihad” at a rally of the Islamist Hizb-ut-Tahrir group on Saturday.