Shortly afterwards, Grosskopf approached nearby police officers, who were in the area to oversee an unrelated demonstration nearby, to report what had happened, and they went over to talk to the individual as Grosskopf entered the council session.
The next day, on Tuesday, in an email exchange seen by the JC, the police assured Grosskopf that “attempts will be made today to arrest the male in question” and that it was “likely” the man would be charged with a hate crime.
Now more than 10 days after the incident took place, the Metropolitan Police told the JC that no arrest has yet been made and efforts to identify the man are ongoing.
In a statement, the Met said: “Officers are investigating a hate crime after a 48-year-old man reported he had been verbally abused because of his religion outside Tottenham Town Hall, on Monday, 24 November at around 18:30hrs.
“Although no arrests have been made at this stage, police continue to carry out enquiries, including gathering CCTV and liaising with the victim.
“If anyone has any information relating to the incident, please contact the Met via 101 quoting 01/8246233/25.”
Grosskopf said the incident has had a “significant psychological impact” on him.
“I felt shocked, humiliated, and unsafe being verbally abused with an antisemitic slur as I entered my workplace to carry out my duties as a councillor,” he said.
South Tottenham ward councillor Mark Grosskopf[Missing Credit]
He further accused the Metropolitan Police of “two-tier policing”.
“I believe that if it [had happened to] anyone else, the police would have arrested the man on the spot,” he said. “After the attack [on Heaton Park Synagogue] in Manchester, and the demonstration outside St John’s Wood Synagogue recently, you would expect police to take this seriously. If this has happened to me as a councillor, and it’s not been dealt with, there’s no wonder why people don’t [report it] to police when things happen.”
The Met told the JC they are “incredibly sorry [Grosskopf] feels this way”, adding that they are “actively investigating” the offence.
Grosskopf said the latest incident has “compounded” the anxiety he was already experiencing following two similar incidents directed at him in recent weeks.
It is the third time in three months that Grosskopf has been the target of antisemitic abuse.
In September, the councillor, alongside senior vice-president of the Board of Deputies Adrian Cohen, and Charedi community leader Motty Pinter, was subject to antisemitic threats and abuse in Liverpool outside a venue hosting a conference for the Jewish Labour Movement.
The three were reportedly confronted by a man shouting that they should be “ashamed” of themselves and accused them of “killing children in Gaza.”
Merseyside Police arrested a suspect in connection with that offence, according to Grosskopf.
A few weeks later, when Grosskopf was walking home from synagogue with other local Jewish residents, they were provoked by a teenager shouting “free, free Palestine.”
Grosskopf said these episodes have “affected my confidence in carrying out my public duties.
“As someone who works to bring communities together through my role as a councillor and as part of the Haringey Multi-Faith Forum, being targeted with antisemitic hate is particularly distressing and demoralising.
“I now think twice before going out and constantly assess whether it is safe for me to be in certain areas. This constant threat assessment is exhausting and has become a regular part of my daily life.”
