Published: 06:00 EDT, 17 October 2023 | Updated: 04:57 EDT, 18 October 2023
Met Police officers have been accused of showing 'total disrespect' to Britain's war dead by placing their riot helmets next to wreaths on the Cenotaph. Battle Helmets
A YouTuber approached police guarding the memorial during a pro-Palestine protest on Saturday and asked, 'Do you think a war memorial is a good place to set your equipment down? Is that respectful?'
'It's suitable,' one of them said, to which the man filming replied, 'My grandfather fought in that war, I think it's disrespectful to have your equipment resting on a war memorial'.
At this point a second officer intervened, saying: 'Should I tell you why they are there? Ask me a question and I'll give you question if you want... I don't think it's disrespectful.'
Dominic Farrell, a former British Army major, was among veterans to criticise the officers on Twitter. 'Palestinian flags and police helmets/shields dumped on the Cenotaph. Is there no respect?' he tweeted.
Riot police helmets were seen placed next to wreaths on the Cenotaph as police guarded the memorial during pro-Palestine protests on Saturday
A YouTuber asked officers, 'Do you think a war memorial is a good place to set your equipment down? Is that respectful?'
Dominic Farrell, a former British Army major, was among veterans to criticise the officers on Twitter
The Met later tweeted: 'Thank you for drawing this to our attention and we apologise if it has caused any offence'
Henry Bolton, a former UKIP leader and Army lance corporal, tweeted the Met Police and said: 'You need to have a word with your officers about respect for war memorials.'
Others defended the officers, with one pointing out that they were 'protecting the memorial and risking serious injury to do so'.
A second wrote: 'First and foremost I'm glad that the police are there protecting what is a great part of British heritage but I agree they could keep their equipment by there feet.'
The Met later apologised, saying: 'Thank you for drawing this to our attention and we apologise if it has caused any offence. Officers worked hard yesterday to protect people and buildings but we will feed this into future policing plans.'
The protests on Saturday saw thousands of pro-Palestine activists march through London demanding an end to Israeli 'aggression'.
But there was anger that the demonstration was allowed to take place so close to the 'hallowed' ground of the Cenotaph.
Many Twitter users accused the officers of 'disrespect' but others defended them
Pictures showed the stage for speakers including Jeremy Corbyn was installed in front of the memorial to Britain's war dead.
The Met told MailOnline that Westminster Council is responsible for permitting or blocking protests on roads. But the council said it had not given approval.
The stage was installed by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Its director Ben Jamal said: 'It was a police decision. We wanted to have this stage outside Downing Street, but the police told us to put it further north, so we set up where the police decided.'
The Met is continuing to try and trace two women who attended the protest with images of hang gliders on their jackets.
Hamas used paragliders as part of its attack on Israel on October 7.
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