Met Police apologises to Jewish News over chief’s Chanukah bus claim
Sir Mark Rowley had suggested JN report on the decision to close the police investigation was 'inaccurate'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Metropolitan Police have apologised after new commissioner Sir Mark Rowley claimed a Jewish News report revealing the the police had closed an investigation into the Oxford Street Chanukah bus incident was “inaccurate.”
Speaking to the London Assembly’s police and crime committee on Wednesday, Rowley said his officers were “still trying to identify” those responsible for the antisemitic abuse directed at Jewish passsengers on a bus in November 2021.
He was responding to concerns raised by Hammersmith and Fulham assembly Tony Devenish who referenced last week’s Jewish News story revealing the case had been closed.
That report was based on a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police last Friday.
Devenish asked the commissioner about the decision taken to drop the investigation, adding “a lot of people are upset about that” and called for action to “reassure the Jewish community about antisemitism.”
Rowley, who took over from Cressida Dick last month, responded: “Antisemitism is unacceptable”.
“That reporting is inaccurate, as I understand it,” he said, adding: “We have some images on that case and we are still trying to identify the people who were guilty of that.”
But asked to clarify Rowley’s comments, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “The statement we gave you and the article you published are correct.
“The crime report (or case as it might be more commonly described) was indeed closed in July.
“It appears the Commissioner’s briefing note for his appearance this morning wasn’t as clear as it could have been on this point.
“I’ve raised this at my end and I obviously regret that it was suggested your reporting wasn’t accurate.”
Rowley’s suggestion that police were continuing the investigation had initially been welcomed by Andrew Gilbert, co-chair of the London Jewish Forum (LJF) and a member of the London Jewish Police Forum (LJPF).
He said he would “urgently ask the Met to go forward with a renewed attempt to identify the perpetrators by using Crimestoppers with a reward, or by any other way they choose to do this.”
Gilbert, who sits on the LJPF alongside representatives from the Community Security Trust, (CST) Jewish Leadership Council, (JLC) the Board of Deputies (BoD) and Shomrim, added:”We look forward to this matter moving forward, so that all the distress over the past 10 months can be forgotten.”
It is the understood that several witnesses to the Chanukah bus incident believe they have still not been properly interviewed.
In a statement issued last Friday the Met confirmed: “On 29 November 2021, officers responded to calls about antisemitic abuse being directed at passengers on a private bus in Oxford Street by a group on the pavement outside.
“The bus left the scene of the incident to avoid further confrontation and officers met it nearby. The suspects had also left the area and could not be located.
“Video footage of the incident was shared on social media and we issued an appeal for anyone who recognised those involved to come forward. Two further appeals were issued which included photographs to help with identification.
“The only names provided in response to those appeals have been eliminated from our enquiries. The identity of those involved is still unknown.
“A decision was taken in July to close the case.”
Jewish News has contacted the Met for clarification as to why their press office issued a statement claiming the case was closed.
Following widespread media coverage of the incident, police issued images of three men, one of who was accused of spitting at the bus, while another appeared to make a Nazi salute.
Others were seen waving their shoes at the group – an insult in some Muslim countries.
The footage of the 29 November 2021 incident captured the attack from inside the bus.
In the video, people on board the bus can be heard saying “we are Jewish” and “we need to go”.
Reports at the time confirmed there were around 40 young Jewish people on the bus, which had been hired for the evening for the festival celebrations.
Following the incident Det Insp Kevin Eade said police were treating the incident as a hate crime.
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