Reform MP's 'two-tier policing' claim criticised by Met boss

Rupert Lowe, the Reform MP for Great Yarmouth, has been using his X/Twitter account to criticise the way forces have responded to rioting across the UK, suggesting senior officers are dealing with some protests and demonstrations more harshly than others.

However, Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, has described such claims as "complete nonsense" and said they risked "legitimising" unrest.

But Mr Lowe stood by his comments, saying it was "undeniable" that there have been different responses by the police to incidents depending on the groups involved.

Elon Musk has been criticised for his comments by police chief Sir Mark Rowley (Image: PA)

'TWO-TIER CLAIMS'

Figures including Nigel Farage and Elon Musk have suggested the far-right riots and disorder that have swept across the country have been dealt with more harshly than other recent protests, such as those involving the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mr Lowe has repeated these claims through several posts on X (Twitter) this week, saying it was "rife".

He did not provide any examples of this happening in Norfolk, but has criticised the police response to unrest in Birmingham earlier this week involving a crowd of mainly young Asian men, during which some individuals were spotted with weapons.

He cited an interview with a senior West Midlands Police officer who, when asked why the police had such little presence at the disorder, said officers had liaised beforehand with "community leaders" to "understand the style of policing we needed to deliver".

Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth (Image: PA)

Mr Lowe tweeted: “A remarkable interview... ‘Policed within themselves’. Why is one group seemingly policed in an incredibly different way to others?"

He told the EDP: "Violence from any group must not be tolerated - whatever the skin colour, background or religion.

"All must be treated fairly and equally by the law. The police must not discriminate.

"Sadly, two-tier policing is undeniable.  I believe all violence from any group should be treated in the same way, with zero tolerance.

"That has unquestionably not been the case.  Frontline officers must not be blamed.

"The responsibility lies with our politicians and police leadership."

He has also called for parliament to be recalled. 

Riot police form a line on the Lower Ormeau road in Belfast after people taking part in an anti-Islamic protest make their way through the area following a protest outside Belfast City Hall (Image: PA)

'NONSENSE'

Met Police chief Mark Rowley rejected these accusations and said it was "concerning" that serious voices were spreading these claims.

He said: “It’s complete nonsense.

“We operate independently under the law without fear or favour.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley leaving Downing Street (Image: PA)

“The serious voices who echo those are of more concern to me, because the risk is they legitimise it, and they legitimise the violence that the officers I’m sending on mutual aid today will face on the streets.

"They are putting them at risk by suggesting that any of those officers are going out with any intent other than to operate without fear or favour in protecting communities.”

Meanwhile, another Norfolk MP, Clive Lewis, has become embroiled in a further row after posting on X (Twitter) that he intends to attend a counter-protest in Norwich.

This has been criticised as "making the police's job harder" by David Thomas, a Conservative who stood against Mr Lewis in the general election last month.

In another development, Norfolk Constabulary said its officers were on standby to be deployed elsewhere in the UK, if required.