Police Federation rebukes Polanski over celebratory Palestine Action trial tweet
In end of trial post on X Green Party leader fails to acknowledge policewoman injured in sledgehammer attack at Elbit protest
The Police Federation has strongly rebuked Green Party leader Zack Polanski after he posted a celebratory message about the acquittal of Palestine Action protesters who broke into an Israeli defence firm—while failing to acknowledge that a police officer’s spine was fractured with a sledgehammer during the incident.
n a public letter, the national staff association for police officers in England and Wales warned Polanski that his comments “risk sending a message that injury to police officers is an acceptable consequence.”
The letter continued: “When an officer is seriously injured, basic human decency would suggest this fact warrants acknowledgement, whatever one’s views on the wider political cause or the outcome of the trial.”
The Federation also reminded Polanski that police officers “are not responsible for foreign policy or defence contracts,” responding to his remarks following the trial of six people accused of targeting Elbit Systems’ Bristol factory last year.
Confirming the letter had been sent, the Federation said: “While political debate and differing views on protest are entirely legitimate, the serious injury of a police officer during these events went unacknowledged. That omission matters.”
They added: “Police officers are not political actors. They are public servants enforcing the law impartially, often in highly charged and confrontational environments. When officers are seriously injured in the line of duty, basic empathy and recognition should transcend political positions. Public figures carry influence. How harm is acknowledged or overlooked sends a signal to those policing future protests. Empathy costs nothing. Its absence can have serious consequences.”
After a jury at Woolwich Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on the charge of grievous bodily harm against the policewoman—as well as on charges of criminal damage against all six defendants—Polanski said he was “pleased” with the decision, adding: “people protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here.”
Polanski also retweeted a post by former British ambassador Craig Murray, which claimed it was a “lie” that a policewoman had been attacked with a sledgehammer.
However, during the trial, it was not disputed that Sergeant Kate Evans was struck with a sledgehammer, fracturing her spine and forcing her off work for three months.
She told the court she believed her spine was “shattered” after being hit in the lower back while she was on her knees arresting a protester.
Samuel Corner, 23, an Oxford graduate accused of grievous bodily harm, admitted striking Sgt Evans with a sledgehammer but claimed he did so to protect other activists and denied causing her serious harm. No verdict was reached on the GBH charge.
Corner, along with Charlotte Head, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers, and Jordan Devlin, was acquitted of aggravated burglary after a jury deliberated for more than 36 hours at the end of a 12-week trial.
Rajwani, Rogers, and Devlin were also found not guilty of violent disorder. The jury could not reach a verdict on charges of criminal damage for any of the six, nor on violent disorder charges against Head, Corner, and Kamio.
Outside the court, supporters and families of the defendants gathered with about 100 people to celebrate the acquittals. The group could still face a retrial on the unresolved charges.
Palestine Action alleges Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military, a claim the company denies.
The group insisted they had no intention to be violent, despite prosecutors’ claims that they brought sledgehammers to confront security guards.
They said they only acted in self-defence when security officers overreacted. None of the security officers is under criminal investigation.
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