Met chief defends policing of anti-war protests after Sunak’s criticism

Mark Rowley says officers are being called ‘woke and fascist’ at same time and feel undermined by lack of support

Mark Rowley has hit back at Rishi Sunak’s criticism of the policing of anti-war protests, dismissing claims officers are failing to enforce the law and saying officers were being labelled “woke and fascist” at the same time.

The Metropolitan police commissioner spoke out on Tuesday after police leaders were last week summoned to Downing Street to discuss their forces’ approach to the marches against the conflict in Gaza.