The Metropolitan Police gave the green light to its officers taking a knee during the Black Lives Matter protest yesterday, while the rank-and-file union said the gesture ‘shows we are human beings.’
Several officers adopted the iconic pose in support of the anti-racism protests in London which were sparked by the death of George Floyd in the US and are now sweeping the world.
It is the first time police in the UK have used the bold stance and those that did outside Downing Street were applauded with whoops and cheers from the crowd.
Metropolitan Police officers take a knee at yesterday’s Black Lives Matter protest in London
Several officers adopted the iconic pose in support of the anti-racism protests in London
In a statement Scotland Yard said: ‘We know passions are running high and like everyone we were appalled by the images of George Floyd losing his life.
‘Our officers are part of the communities of London and care deeply about justice and equality.
‘Taking the knee is a personal decision and should individual officers at their own discretion, where it was safe to do so, and is doesn’t interfere with their operational duties, decide to kneel on one knee with Londoners they are free to do so.’
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said his colleagues kneeling down was a show of empathy and respect over the death of Mr Floyd.
The officers that took the knee outside Downing Street were applauded yesterday
Mr Marsh also said it was ‘disappointing’ that police forces in the UK were being compared to their counterparts in the U.S following the death of Mr Floyd, who was pinned down by the neck for more than eight minutes by a Minneapolis officer.
He told MailOnline: ‘I think that by those officers taking a knee during the protests yesterday shows that we are human beings.
‘I think it shows that we try to understand what is put in front of us in a very difficult situation.
‘Bear in mind we are in the middle of a pandemic which is still killing hundreds of people every day, you shouldn’t have a crowd of thousands of people in the way that there was yesterday so a lot of empathy was shown in terms of the policing.
Protesters kneel in front of police during the Black Lives Matter protest in London yesterday
NFl Colin Kaepernick started the ‘take a knee’ movement during his time in the NFL and it has become a symbol of anger and solidarity against racism across the world
‘But the bottom line is we understand. We understand what took place over the water.
Officer who took the knee outside Downing Street says he did it because ‘my colleagues are not racist’ and it was a ‘nice gesture’
A London police officer who took the knee outside Downing Street yesterday revealed he did so to show his colleagues ‘are not racist’.
One of the Met Police officers (pictured) who took a knee during the BLM protest
The officer, who is based in north London, said: ‘I did it because at the end of the day we’re all one.’
Police are generally advised by their senior officers to refrain from any behaviour that might bring their impartiality into question.
But the officer said: ‘I know I’m not racist and I know that my colleagues are not racist, so why not?
‘I came into the job to help people and it was a nice gesture. A few of us decided to do it.’
‘I personally don’t think we are anything like America and I find it disappointing that comparisons are being made with us and the States because we police by consent.
‘And that was clear from the way our officers behaved at the protest yesterday.’
At least 15,000 Black Lives Matter protesters including actor John Boyega and singer Liam Payne gathered in London, ignoring social distancing guidelines, as a show of anger against the death of Mr Floyd 11 days ago.
And at least 2,000 of those demonstrated in front of Downing Street, shouting ‘take a knee’ at Metropolitan Police officers guarding security gates.
Four officers obliged, to the approval of the crowds, who urged other officers to follow the example of their colleagues.
One of those officers explained his actions and said: ‘I did it because at the end of the day we’re all one.’
Police are generally advised by their senior officers to refrain from any behaviour that might bring their impartiality into question.
But the officer, based in North London, said: ‘I know I’m not racist and I know that my colleagues are not racist, so why not?
‘I came into the job to help people and it was a nice gesture. A few of us decided to do it.’
However some Twitter users suggested that police were only taking the knee because they feared reprisals if they did not.
Peter Ashworth, from Gloucestershire, tweeted: ‘Police being attacked and forced to kneel for fear of reprisals. London monuments being defaced. This is not OK.’
Another social media user added: ‘Your officers have disgraced the police force of Britain with your sub-missionary kneel to the general public yesterday.
‘As an ex-serviceman I am appalled at your officers. They should be disciplined for this act.’
Some Twitter users were upset by the act – and suggested that police were only taking the knee because they feared reprisals if they did not
The ‘take a knee’ movement started in the US with NFL star Colin Kaepernick and has become a symbol of anger and solidarity against racism across the world.
In the US, officers recently started taking a knee in support of protesters following days of unrest after Mr Floyd’s killing at the hands of police.
In the run-up to yesterday’s London protest, the Met released a statement empathising with those angered by Mr Floyd’s death.
Moment news camera crew were attacked LIVE on air at Black Lives Matter protests in London where mobs of ‘protesters’ also attacked police after officers took a knee in solidarity
By Jack Elsom for MailOnline
This is the terrifying moment a television crew was chased through London after being attacked live on air at the Black Lives Matter protest.
Australian news correspondent Ben Avery and his cameraman Cade Thompson were filming on Whitehall when sections of the mostly peaceful demonstration turned ugly.
They were mobbed by frenzied youths jostling the crew and disrupting the broadcast while chanting ‘f*** the media!’.
Avery and his team backed off, but the protesters stalked them down the street, ripped the microphone from his hand and hounded them to Parliament Square.
The largely peaceful rally, inspired by the killing of American George Floyd, had gathered in Hyde Park before marching on Westminster, where some of the crowd turned violent, leading to 13 arrests.
Clashes with police continued into the night yesterday, including outside Downing Street where supposed protesters tore down barriers.
In the face of a fiery crowd, some constables were pictured kneeling on the floor – an action associated with the Black Lives Matter movement since NFL star Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the US national anthem.
An Australian TV crew was mobbed by frenzied youths jostling the crew and disrupting the broadcast while chanting ‘f*** the media!’ while filming in Westminster, London
Ben Avery (pictured) and his team backed off, but the protesters stalked them down the street, ripped the microphone from his hand and hounded them to Parliament Square
The Nine News correspondent revealed later he was nursing an injury after taking a flying bottle to the face.
And he described how his security guard was ‘taking on about 15 people’ as they ‘bolted’ to safety.
He said: ‘We had bottles flying around, at one stage one of the bottles hit me in the face as I was running off. It was pretty scary really.’
Avery tweeted last night: ‘Thanks to everyone for your concern after this. Had been a peaceful protest until things took a turn late.
‘The microphone was pulled from my hand and we were chased down the street by a large group.
‘Big thanks to rock solid cameraman Cade Thompson, our security guard and police.’
Despite attempts to swipe his camera, Thompson managed to send out a live broadcast throughout the frightening episode.
He described how his security guard was ‘taking on about 15 people’ as they ‘bolted’ to safety
News correspondent Ben Avery and his cameraman Cade Thompson were filming on Whitehall when sections of the mostly peaceful demonstration turned ugly
The Nine News clip footage shows Avery reporting on Whitehall, who immediately tells his television anchor back in the studio that ‘there have been some clashes with us’.
He is circled by a group of supposed protesters who try to move in front of the camera while shouting.
Suddenly, the camera spins round as if knocked and one of the mob is seen sprinting through an underpass.
As he backs off, Avery tries to continue the broadcast and says: ‘We’ve been trying to walk away from the danger here, but it’s been following us.’
But the correspondent is cut off as somebody grabs his microphone and tears off, while the security guard is seen trying to hold off the whipped-up crowd.
Some of the mob are heard whooping as the female voice of the television anchor says ‘this just shows how dangerous it is for our reporters’.
As police swoop in to intervene, Avery and his cameraman run down the street, past Westminster Tube station and across to the Palace of Westminster.
A masked cyclist appears to take a swipe at Thompson’s camera, but misses.
The clip finishes with both Avery and Thompson reunited outside the Houses of Parliament where they are shielded by bolstered police forces.
Describing the saga on Nine News later, Avery said: ‘It felt like there was a police officer for every single protester there at that stage but it didn’t make much difference.
‘They were just so angry and they were so after us at that stage that even one of police said to me there is not much they could do.’