Why supporting officers in the wake of violent attacks is vital for policing.

There are times when criticism of police leadership is both justified and necessary. The current Commissioner has, on occasion, faced such criticism, particularly over a perceived reluctance to publicly support officers in moments of intense scrutiny. However, it is equally important to recognise when leadership meets the moment. In the aftermath of the horrific violent incident in Golders Green, the Commissioner’s decision to stand firmly behind his officers was both appropriate and necessary.

The attack itself was deeply disturbing. Reports of a man armed with a knife, allegedly ignoring repeated instructions to disarm, and carrying out a violent assault on members of the public, created a fast-moving and dangerous situation. Officers responding to such incidents are required to make decisions within seconds, often with incomplete information and under immense pressure. Their priority is clear: to protect life.

In the hours that followed, social media once again became a forum for armchair analysis. Many were quick to question tactics and outcomes, despite having no direct experience of confronting an armed and violent individual. The reality is that most people will never face such a situation. Those who do, namely police officers, must act decisively, knowing their actions will later be examined in the finest detail.

The use of force by police is, and should be, subject to scrutiny. Public confidence depends upon it. Yet there is a distinction between legitimate accountability and retrospective judgement made without full understanding of the circumstances. In this case, officers were responding to an immediate and serious threat, with reports of innocent people being attacked in the street.

It has since emerged that the individual involved had a history of prior concern, but such information is not always available to officers at the point of response. They are required to deal with the situation as it presents itself, not as it may later be understood.

Against this backdrop, the Commissioner’s support for his officers should not be mistaken for political positioning. It is, rather, an acknowledgement of the realities of policing and the risks officers face daily. To stand publicly behind those who have acted to protect the public is not only justified, it is essential.

Leadership, in such moments, is measured not by distance but by presence. On this occasion, the Commissioner’s stance provided clarity and reassurance to his officers and, importantly, to the public they serve.

These officers did what they could to stop a violent individual.

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