The police have had a rough time of it over the last couple of weeks as they attempt - often at considerable personal risk - to maintain public order at the increasingly violent anti-Israel demonstrations in the capital.

However, according to the Evening Standard, Met Police Commander Bob Broadhurst is planning "discussions with both sets of protestors this week to prevent any more violence." He said, again according to the paper, "We will need to sit down and talk to organisers and say 'enough's enough.'"

Forgive me but as far as I know, it's not the pro-Israel demonstrators who have smashed and looted their way through shops and businesses and racked up a policing bill of more than £1 million. Commander Broadhurst is welcome to sit and talk to the Stop the War Coalition, under whose aegis much of this charmless behaviour appears to have occurred - but so far the Jewish side has behaved like law-abiding meerkats. As one might expect. They hardly need a metaphorical smack on the wrist from the cops.