Police offer protection to Labour minister’s staff after intimidatory pro-Palestine demos
EXCLUSIVE: Armed forces minister Luke Pollard has repeatedly been targeted by pro-Palestine activists
Staff working for Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard have been given police protection outside his constituency office in response to increasingly intimidatory protests by pro-Palestine activists.
In scenes that shocked both hard-working staff and locals in the area, police were called to the Labour MP’s office in Plymouth on Thursday to deal with protest, amid claims several activists had performed Nazi-salutes.
While staff were fearful of stepping out of the office, the demonstration is also said to have impacted on local constituents who were turning up for appointments or seeking access to their MP for urgent support.
With loud music blaring outside, and constant abuse from those on the demo, sources told Jewish News that some locals mistakenly thought they were witnessing a protest by far-right activists when they witnessed some on the protest making Nazi salutes.
Police were also visible at the end of the working day on Thursday offering protection for staff as they left the office.
One source told Jewish News:”Staff have got used to regular protests outside their place of work, but the truth is they are becoming more and more aggressive and intimidating.
“On Thursday afternoon it became unbearable. Thankfully the police came out quite quickly once they were called, but the protestors seemed to adopt this stance of not engaging with the officers.
“Some of the staff are now really scared about coming to work each day. It’s an awful situation, especially when you have local people turning up to try to get help for serious issues, but they can’t get into the office.
“It was actually sickening to see staff coming out of the office on Thursday to go home with police having to give them protection.
“Something needs to be done about the situation, and fast.”
Pollard has repeatedly been targeted by hardcore pro-Palestine activists, particularly over his role as armed forces minister, and his backing, alongside the home secretary Yvette Cooper for the proscription of the Palestine Action group.
He has also faced false claims that the UK is actively involved with providing military assistance to Israel in Gaza.
On Monday, activists from the Plymouth Friends of Palestine group posted a video of their demo outside the constituency office, at which chants of “Luke Pollard shame shame all the blood spilled in your name” were heard in relation to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
Others chants included:”Zionism, terrorism” and “Luke Pollard you can’t hide, we charge with genocide.” There is no suggestion this small group of protestors on Monday were involved in Thursday’s more aggressive demo.
But a police van was seen parked up the road from the MP’s office as Monday’s demo took place.
Jewish News has approached Devon and Cornwall Police and the Labour Party for comment.
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