Why Zack Polanski is talking tripe about the police officers who arrested Golders Green suspect

This is my latest column, published in today's Scotsman (12th May 2026).

Far be it for me to offer advice to our political party leaders, but I must respectfully suggest that, in his recent criticism of police actions during the arrest of a suspect in the Golders Green stabbings in London, England’s Green Party leader Zack Polanski is talking tripe. Fortunately, the entire incident involving two Metropolitan Police Officers and the suspect, Essa Suleiman, was captured on video, leaving little doubt for anyone with eyes to see.

The situation that unfolded went like this: following two stabbing attacks on random Jewish men, the suspect was confronted by members of a local security organisation and two unarmed Metropolitan Police officers, who arrived minutes after the incident.

As the video clearly shows, the officers shouted warnings as they approached the suspect, telling him to drop the knife he was obviously carrying. The officers then rightly ‘stood off’ while also cornering the suspect, with the aim of bringing him under control. The first priority in such situations is to protect life and prevent any further injuries to members of the public and themselves. The second priority is to contain the incident, make it safe, and detain the suspect.

As the incident carries on, the video shows the officers continuing to shout warnings, and the suspect, having refused to drop the knife, is then warned that a police-issue taser will be deployed. There still being no compliance from the suspect, the taser is fired, bringing him to the ground.

However, crucially, he is still holding the knife. He was a large man wearing heavy clothing and, while the taser had been partially successful, the suspect was not totally immobilised and was still armed and could have been dangerous.

The two officers then move closer in an attempt to bring him under control, while staying out of range of the knife. The priority for the officers now is to prevent the suspect from getting to his feet again, and to do this while staying out of the range of the knife. They resorted to kicking him until they could get him under control and disarmed.

In such fast-moving and dangerous situations, training and instincts kick in, but in the end the test is a common sense one. Was the conduct of officers reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances? Anyone who has tried to subdue an armed and potentially violent person will be in no doubt that, in this case, the officers had no option than to take the actions they did.

They behaved bravely and with composure in the face of serious danger. They protected the public and themselves in a fast-paced and violent confrontation while bringing the suspect under control. Their conduct was not only reasonable and proportionate, it was necessary to protect life.

An old boss of mine had a sign on his desk which read “Please ensure brain is engaged before putting mouth into operation.” I commend that advice to Mr Polanski, and all our politicians for that matter.