Polanski apologises for sharing post criticising police

Zack Polanski has apologised for sharing a social media post condemning the actions of police officers who arrested the suspect in the Golders Green attack.

The Green Party leader had reposted a message on X accusing officers of "repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head when he was already incapacitated by Taser."

The decision to share the post had prompted criticism, including from Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in a letter to the politician on Thursday.

In a statement on Friday, Polanski apologised for "sharing a tweet in haste," adding that he should not have commented on police actions via social media.

"Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature at a time of such tension," he said.

"Police responses to emergency situations such as these do need later reflection in the right forums, but I accept that social media is not the appropriate channel for doing so," he added.

He added that he had invited Sir Mark to "meet with me to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised in his letter".

Anthony Slaughter, who leads the Greens in Wales, had been among those to criticise Polanski's decision to repost the comment, telling LBC it seemed "inappropriate".

Green Party deputy leader Rachel Millward also appeared to distance herself from the comments, praising the officers as "brave", and adding the incident would have been "beyond terrifying".

Polanski, a member of the London Assembly, which has a role in overseeing the Met police, became leader of the Green Party of England and Wales in September last year.