In this exclusive episode, Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) joins Rabbi Dovid Lewis and Imam Nasser Kurdy to discuss the major way in how UK forces are policing protests related to the Israel-Hamas war.

Following a pivotal joint statement issued with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in December 2025, police strategy has shifted.

Sir Stephen explains why certain chants and slogans - previously tolerated at pro-Palestinian marches - may now cross the threshold into hate crime or public order offences.

They explore how this new approach aims to balance the democratic right to protest, with the urgent need for community safety, specifically addressing the rising fear of antisemitism within the Jewish community and maintaining community cohesion for all, including the Muslim community.

This conversation dives into the "why" behind the change:

How police now assess the context and intent of language like "globalise the intifada".

The warning that enforcement will be more "decisive" against hate speech.

The reality of policing London and Manchester during a time of heightened terrorist threat.

Key Topics Discussed:

00:00 - Introduction: Policing protests in a time of global conflict.

05:12 - Hate Crime Legislation: How police determine if language is criminal.

12:45 - Community Safety: Is the fear in the Jewish community justified?

18:30 - Free Speech vs. Hate Speech: Where is the legal line?

24:10 - Context and Intent: Why it matters when policing marches.

31:00 - Extremism: How a small minority hijacks legitimate causes.

40:15 - Community Cohesion: Are we losing the middle ground?

This podcast was recorded in a studio in south Manchester and is now available to watch here on our new Youtube channel

This is a Mark Schweiger and Larchmont Productions co-production.

If you have any comments or suggestions about the podcast please email: mark@schweigers.uk or philip@larchmontfilms.com

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