Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has delivered a fierce public rebuke to Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski following Polanski’s social media commentary on the arrest of a suspect involved in the Golders Green double stabbing.

The controversy erupted after Polanski amplified a post on the platform X (formerly Twitter). The retweeted post alleged that Metropolitan Police officers were “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by taser” during the apprehension of the suspect .

In response, Commissioner Rowley issued an unusually direct and scathing open letter, condemning the politician’s actions. The Commissioner accused Polanski of spreading “inaccurate and misinformed commentary” that displays a “casual disregard” for the dangerous work undertaken by police officers . Rowley argued that such remarks directly contribute to rising societal tensions and actively undermine the confidence of frontline officers.

“Apprehending violent and dangerous criminals is a full-contact and messy task which may appear shocking to observers with little experience of policing in the real world,” Rowley stated in the letter .

The incident in question involved an alleged terrorist suspect who was armed with a knife. Commentators defending the police response emphasized the severe threat the individual posed. Two innocent people had already been attacked and sent to the hospital, and officers on the scene faced a potentially lethal situation where the suspect refused to release the weapon .

Rowley’s letter also took aim at the original source of the post Polanski shared, questioning its credibility. “I suspect the more likely scenario is that they are yet another armchair critic who thinks they could do the job possibly more effectively than the brave officers who successfully detained that individual,” the Commissioner wrote .

The timing of the political intervention has also drawn heavy criticism. Rowley warned Polanski that utilizing his public profile to question police actions just hours after an alleged terrorist incident was “not the appropriate route” and warned of a potential “chilling effect” on law enforcement’s ability to act decisively. He noted that the Jewish community is currently scared and expects officers to protect them without hesitation.

The letter concludes with a broader appeal for political responsibility, with Rowley writing: “Solidarity matters. We need politicians and community leaders to be at the forefront of not only condemning the horrific attacks but by taking leadership in confronting anti-semitism and permissive rhetoric lowering tensions” .

The confrontation highlights an escalating friction between London’s police force and political figures regarding the public scrutiny of police use of force, particularly in the immediate aftermath of violent terror-related incidents.