Political commentator Will Kingston has criticised British police officers for lacking the courage to confront Islamic fundamentalists at pro-Palestine rallies.
In a recent appearance on GB News, Kingston claimed officers are “scared” of fundamentalist Muslims who attend Palestine demonstrations.
He suggested this fear leads to unbalanced policing of protests, with officers taking “the easy option” rather than confronting certain protesters.
Kingston made the comments while discussing a pro-Palestine rally held in Essex during the Jewish festival of Passover.
Will Kingston hit out at Palestine demonstrators
GB NEWS / GETTY
“There’s another thing which few people have the guts to say – I think a lot of these police officers are scared of fundamentalist Muslims,” Kingston said on the People’s Channel.
“They’re scared of the types of people that would often turn up at these Palestine rallies.”
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He added: “They would not be scared of people who are supporting Israel because you don’t have that same threat of violence you get from fundamentalist Islamic protesters.”
Kingston claimed many officers “will not call out this sort of stuff” partly due to fear and because they “go for the easy option” in policing protests.
The rally in question took place in Westcliff-on-Sea, Southend, where more than 300 demonstrators gathered in a predominantly Jewish area without providing the legally required six-day notice to Essex Police.
The area is home to a large Jewish community with five synagogues.
Will Kingston accused the force of two-tier policing
GB NEWS
Worshippers were attending services to mark the end of Passover when the demonstration occurred.
Critics accused police of a “disastrous failure” after one group of Jewish worshippers was stopped by officers while trying to return home from a synagogue as protesters marched through the streets.
Michael Ellis, a former Conservative attorney general, accused Essex Police of “two-tier policing” and urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to demand an explanation from the force’s Chief Constable.
“This has been a disastrous failure on the part of Essex Police,” Ellis told The Telegraph.
He described the incident as “a gold standard example of two-tier policing” and criticised officers for allowing the march while preventing “members of the local Jewish community from going about their lawful business.”
“The Home Secretary must call in the Chief Constable of Essex Police to account for this failure,” Ellis added.
A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed that a group of Orthodox Jews near the demonstration “were supported by officers who escorted them to the opposite side of the road to ensure their safety”.
The incident has sparked debate about how protests are policed across Britain, particularly when demonstrations occur in areas with significant religious communities.
Kingston’s comments reflect growing concerns about perceived inconsistencies in how different protests are handled by police forces.
The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding pro-Palestine demonstrations that have been held across the UK.
