The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police says laws for tackling extremism may need to be redrawn in light of pro-Palestinian protests around the Israel-Hamas war.

Sir Mark Rowley said it was for politicians to decide on “the line of the law” and for the police to enforce it.

However, he said recent events were “illustrating that maybe some of the lines aren’t quite in the right place”.

The commissioner’s remarks came just an hour after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said there were no plans to make any legislative changes after the protests in recent weeks.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman met with Sir Mark earlier on Monday to challenge him over the decision not to arrest protestors chanting “jihad” in a video of a Hizb ut-Tahrir protest which surfaced over the weekend.

The force posted on social media that specialist counterterrorism officers had not identified any offences arising from the clip.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, a source close to Ms Braverman said “there can be no place for incitement to hatred or violence” on UK streets and police should “crackdown on anyone breaking the law”.

Israeli soldier killed by Hamas fighters during ground raid in Gaza Strip

No plans to change law after ‘jihad’ protest chants, No 10 says as Braverman challenges Met

Hamas fighters carried instructions on how to make chemical weapons, Israeli president claims

But despite criticism from her and other ministers about the lack of arrest, a Downing Street spokesman said he was “unaware” of any plans to toughen up legislation to aid the police in acting.

Speaking after his meeting with the home secretary, Sir Mark defended officers’ actions, saying the force was “absolutely ruthless in tackling anybody who puts their foot over the legal line”.

But he said the police were “accountable for the law – we can’t enforce taste or decency but we can enforce the law”.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Related posts:

Chair of watchdog which exposed civil servant’s Greensill role not seen ‘anything like it’ Grant Afghans in UK leave to remain and bring back those forced to depart, campaign group says Boris Johnson hides from tough questions, Adam Boulton says as he leaves Sky News after 32 years Who could replace Liz Truss as PM if she is ousted as Tory leader? ‘Genuine benefit of Brexit’: Farmers paid to restore wildlife Labour to push Commons vote to end sewage dumping Spiking would be made specific criminal offence under Labour, Sir Keir Starmer announces Donald Trump to visit Scotland next week Rachel Reeves takes inspiration from Biden’s economic policy in Washington speech Mayor and scientist accused of ‘alarmingly cosy relationship’ to ‘silence’ ULEZ criticism New list of schools with collapse-prone concrete released by government Petition to scrap 20mph default speed limit in Wales breaks record