In a recent development, a former Green Party candidate for London Mayor has halted a commendatory letter that was intended to laud police officers who responded to an anti-Semitic knife attack in Golders Green last month.
Zoe Garbett, who became a member of the London Assembly in 2024, expressed her inability to support the proposed letter, which was set to be issued from City Hall to the Metropolitan Police. The letter, crafted by Marina Ahmad, the Labour chair of the committee, aimed to recognize the officers’ courage and timely intervention during the April 29 incident.
However, Garbett’s objection has prevented the letter from reaching Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, as unanimous agreement from all committee members is required for such correspondences.
Footage from the Golders Green arrest was scrutinized by the Hackney council leader, who raised concerns over what appeared to be “two officers kicking the suspect in the side of the head after he had been tasered.”
Garbett further emphasized the need for clarity, stating, “We should be seeking to understand if the officers were following the correct protocols.”
She later added: ‘We should be seeking to understand if the officers were following the correct protocols.’
Labour’s policing minister Sarah Jones described the objection from the Green Party councillor as ‘a slap in the face’ to the heroic police officers who rushed to the scene, adding that Zack Polanski and his allies should be ‘ashamed’.
She elaborated that the Golders Green police officers showed ‘remarkable bravery’ and ‘deserve our deepest thanks’ for protecting the public.
Zoe Garbett, (pictured) who was elected a member of the London Assembly in 2024, said she ‘could not support’ the proposed letter of praise from City Hall to the Metropolitan Police
The letter, from the committee’s Labour chairman, Marina Ahmad, was intended to thank the brave officers for their ‘swift response’ to the attacks in Golders Green on April 29
She added: ‘It’s truly astounding that Zack Polanski and his allies in City Hall are now going after these courageous officers. It’s a slap in the face and they should be ashamed.
‘The Green Party cannot be trusted with Britain’s national security. They’ve shown whose side they are really on.’
It comes as Essa Suleiman, 45, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with attempted murder and one count of possession of a bladed article in a public place in relation to the attack in north London on April 29.
He was also charged with attempted murder in relation to a separate and earlier incident on the same day in Great Dover Street, south London.
The court heard a man, named in court as Ishmail Hussein, was stabbed but suffered minor injuries around two hours before the Golders Green attack began.
Suleiman was also accused of attacking two men Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76 in Golders Green, who were both treated for stab wounds, just hours later. Both were hospitalised and later discharged.
The 45-year-old did not enter a plea to any of the charges and has been remanded in custody for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on May 15.
Last week, Green Party leader, Zack Polanski apologised for retweeting a social media post claiming the Golders Green officers ‘repeatedly and violently kick[ed] a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser’.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer denounced the move to share the post as disgraceful before noting the suspect was refusing to let go of the knife he was holding.
Sir Mark also accused the Green Party politician of promoting ‘inaccurate and misinformed’ commentary regarding the arrest on April 29.
Meanwhile, London Assembly committee chair Ms Ahmad described the officers’ response to the attack in Golders Green had ‘without question saved lives and prevented further injury’ in a letter written on May 1.
Zack Polanski today insisted he was ‘traumatised’ by footage of police restraining the Golders Green stabbings suspect
Polanski previously retweeted a post suggesting hero policemen who disarmed the Golders Green terrorist were heavy handed
YouGov research published today backed up the idea that Mr Polanski’s popularity has been knocked by his stance on Golders Green
As she thanks the force for upping its policing for those in vulnerable communities, she wrote: ‘Please pass on our gratitude to all those involved for their dedication and service.’
In line with previous concerns aired by the Green Party, she said the committee trusted police officers would continue to deploy their training by ensuring ‘a proportionate and balanced approach’ was used when dealing with suspects.
She added that a review would be carried out into their overall response in a bid to support future learning.
In a message, seen by a newspaper, Ms Garbett, who has been an Assembly member since 2022, said she could not support the letter as it was currently worded.
The NHS worker said while she was ‘deeply concerned about ‘the horrific rise in anti-Semitic hate crime’, that there should be a focus on scrutiny as well as recognition of serving police officers.
‘There are many issues that need to be addressed with the Met regarding this incident, that are really concerning in terms of the Met failing to keep Londoners safe and officer behaviour,’ she added.
She raised several questions, including allegations of the officers kicking the Golders Green suspect in the head, as well as worries about the accused attacking someone in south London just hours before the incident in north London.
The alleged attacker having been on the Prevent anti-terrorism programme, as well as no mention of an uptick in arson and violent attacks on the Jewish community as well as the action the force and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were going to take, were among further questions raised by the Green Party councillor. .
‘I also think it is highly inappropriate for a letter of this nature to be sent during pre-election period,’ she also added.
It is understood Ms Garbett’s original additions to the letter were rejected by the chair, so she added them as a footnote.
Ms Garbett, who is running as the Green Party mayoral candidate for Hackney, receives £66,390 for her role as an assembly member as well as a yearly allowance £12,014 for being a borough councillor.
It comes as Zack Polanski stressed on BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme that he had retracted his post about the April 29 arrest, but also claimed he had been ‘traumatised’ by the images.
He also said the suspect had been ‘handcuffed’ when he was kicked in the head by police trying to make him drop a knife – despite video showing that was not the case.
Embarrassingly, the Greens had to retract that claim after Mr Polanski’s appearance on BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme. ‘Zack misspoke and meant that the man was on the floor,’ a spokesman said.
Mr Polanski also admitted he was wrong to claim he had been a spokesman for the British Red Cross.
Political opponents have demanded Mr Polanski ‘comes clean’ and corrects the record about his claim to have been a ‘spokesman’ for the British Red Cross claim – which was highlighted by The Times overnight.
The false claim was made during his 2022 campaign to become the party’s deputy leader.
He told the BBC radio show today: ‘I hosted various fundraisers for the British Red Cross, and indeed I would go on stage and speak for them about the amazing work they do tackling humanitarian crises, on the climate crisis, and indeed, for refugees all around the world.
‘I used the wrong word, and I accept that, but I would essentially take words on stage with me and speak.
‘It’s important, though, and I accept this, that they don’t support any political party, and I’ve made sure that’s been taken down.’
A Hackney Green Party spokesperson said: ‘Zoë Garbett AM dissents from this letter. She shares the Committee’s concern about both rising antisemitic hate crime and the safety of Jewish Londoners.
‘However, she believes this letter should place greater emphasis on scrutiny of the police regarding this incident and the Prevent programme.’
It is understood the London Assembly are unable to comment due to pre-election period rules.
