UK Green Party leader apologises for sharing post criticising police over golders green arrest

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has apologised after sharing a social media post that criticised how police handled the arrest of a suspect in the Golders Green attack.The controversy began when Polanski reshared a message on X that appeared to question the actions of officers during the arrest. The post claimed police used excessive force on a man who had already been restrained.

The post drew criticism, including from Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.In a statement, Polanski said he regretted sharing the post and acknowledged it was done without proper thought.“Everyone in leadership has a responsibility for lowering the temperature at a time of such tension, and I apologise for sharing a tweet in haste,” he said.He added that while police actions can be reviewed, social media is not the right place to raise such concerns.“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 said.Polanski also said he had reached out to Rowley to discuss the issue further.“I have invited Mark Rowley to meet with me to discuss the police response and the wider issues raised,” he added.The incident relates to the police response to the Golders Green stabbing, which is being treated as a terrorist case.The Metropolitan Police has not issued any further comment on the matter.