The Metropolitan Police has received more criticism for investigating possible war crimes committed during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson accused Scotland Yard of “worrying politicisation” after posters at Heathrow urged people returning from the region with information to get in touch.
Commander Dominic Murphy, the Met’s head of counter terrorism, defended the force stating it has national responsibility for probing allegations and supporting the International Criminal Court as a signatory of the 1998 Rome Statute.
But leading Jewish barrister Simon Myerson KC questioned the force’s priorities.
He told The Times: “At the moment, if one complains about a fraud or a bicycle being stolen, it’s extremely unlikely to be investigated, and I wonder whether this is a good use of police resources. It seems closer to virtue signalling than actual action.
“As far as the Jewish community is concerned, it is disappointing that there are protests and convoys where there is clear antisemitism on display.”
Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “At a time when protesters are marching in London every week wearing Hamas-style head-bands, shouting genocidal chants, calling for jihad against the Jewish state and inciting violent intifada with apparent impunity, the Met is concerned with acts of terrorism and allegations of war crimes halfway around the world, potentially even in contravention of the stated position of the British Government.”
Cmdr Murphy said: “The work of the War Crimes Team does not impact on the ability of the Met to tackle the crimes which matter most to Londoners, including violence and knife crime.”
It casme as the US’s most senior diplomat Anthony Blinken was beginning a visit to the Middle East on Friday as tensions rise amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas.
The US Secretary of State's visit to myultiple countries is the fourth trip to the region and fifth to Israel since the start of the conflict triggered by Hamas's October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel.
Fears are growing of a wider conflict after Israel on Tuesday carried out a strike inside Lebanon that killed a top Hamas leader, and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels fire on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
