Sir Mark Rowley snatched a portion of the microphone and dropped it as he walked away when News correspondent Rob Catherall questioned if he was “going to end two-tier policing.”.
The UK’s most senior police chief was leaving the Cabinet Office in central London, where he had attended an emergency COBRA meeting with the prime minister, ministers, and other police chiefs to tackle the riots that had erupted across the country.
Hundreds of people were arrested and numerous police officers were injured as riots erupted following the Southport stabbing last Monday, which killed three young girls and left it.
On Monday afternoon, Sir Mark walked past a small crowd of photographers and journalists to his car on Whitehall.
The moment was caught on video.
Later on Monday, Sir Mark stated: “This morning, I participated in a positive and constructive COBRA meeting with the Prime Minister about our collective response to hateful behaviour and violent disorder across the country.”
“There’s been a story running all day about my departure from the meeting. This is a diversion from the pressing issues we are dealing with.
