Zack Polanski right to challenge police actions during arrest of attacker - Yorkshire Post Letters

Zack Polanski has been roundly criticised for re-tweeting a post that was critical of police behaviour in arresting a Somali man. The Somali had been armed with a knife and had attacked two Jews in Golders Green. Both victims were badly injured but are recovering.

The essence of Polanski's significant concern is that after the Somali man had been tasered and taken to the ground, two policemen kicked the arrested man in the head, at least three times. This was shown clearly on Channel 4 News on Friday – a bystander had videoed the kicking.

Polanski's re-tweeting has drawn down a torrent of wrath. Other political party leaders have weighed in with stringent criticism. Sir Keir Starmer has called Polanski's action “disgraceful”, adding “he is not fit to lead a political party”.

I disagree. What is disgraceful is two policemen kicking an arrested man in the head.

Two facts have emerged since the incident. One is that the Somali man has a history of serious mental illness. Fairly recently he had been hospitalised. With hindsight we might say that he should have been detained in a secure mental institution. Secondly, on the day of the attack on the two Jews the Somali had previously attacked with a knife his friend of twenty years. This gives us some insight into his mental instability.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Chief, has written to Polanski, taking him to task, and defending his constables. Operating in a dangerous situation, police have to be “brave” “full contact” and “messy”. This will not wash. Kicking the head of a man lying on the ground was gratuitous. It was totally unnecessary and if Sir Mark is disinclined to call it out, then he is in danger of normalising police brutality.

Given the outcry that has hit him, Polanski has chosen to row back somewhat. I do not think that he has to - he has performed a useful public function by pointing up unacceptable police behaviour.

I would have more respect for Sir Mark Rowley if he had called in the two constables and given them a private but severe dressing down.

I would have more respect for the leaders of other political parties who have piled in to criticise Polanski if they had taken a more objective view of what went on and displayed a higher degree of intellectual honesty.