Sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman should not have publicly criticized the Metropolitan Police when she pushed the force to ban a pro-Palestinian march, a watchdog has found.

Chief Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke said Braverman’s comments during the ceasefire march in which she accused the force of bias and playing favorites in police protests – which ultimately led to her sacking from the government – should have been delivered privately if deemed appropriate.

In a report published on Tuesday, commissioned by Braverman himself, his findings also describe how police chiefs warned they were often exposed to “inappropriate” interference from significant political figures.

Then-prime minister Rishi Sunak fired Braverman in the middle of a row last year when she was accused of stoking tension ahead of the protests in London and defying Downing Street by writing an unauthorized opinion piece for The Times newspaper.

In it, she said “pro-Palestinian mobs” were “largely ignored, even when they are clearly breaking the law”, while aggressive right-wing protesters are met with a stern response by officers, whom she accused of “double standards”.

But the force said it had no legal powers to ban the march due to a lack of intelligence suggesting any risks.

More than 100 arrests were made after right-wing protesters clashed with officers, while some members of the large pro-Palestinian march were accused of using anti-Semitic slogans.

Mr Cooke produced the report after Braverman called on the watchdog to inspect police involvement in politically contentious matters last September.

After detailing the Remembrance Day protests and her actions, the findings said: “Both forces and politicians should be alert to the risk of any undue political interference.

“This includes the risk of actual or perceived disruption, whether or not that perception is correct. Ordinarily, such intervention, if deemed appropriate, should be done in private.”

With 22 recommendations for improvement to the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, Mr. Cooke described the inspection as one of the most “challenging” the watchdog had undertaken, requiring inspectors to navigate complex laws and regulations. and relations between politicians and police as officers tasked with keeping the peace.

He said: “The operational independence of chief constables is a cornerstone of policing in the UK. And the exercise of democratic accountability and governance is also a fundamental part of policing.

“Chief constables must be held to account for how effectively they carry out their duties. There is a delicate balance between these equally important concepts.

“The chief officers told us that they often experience what they consider to be inappropriate pressure or interference from significant political figures. We found that overt attempts to influence the operational police challenge the impartiality of the police and can reduce public trust.”

Calling for a clear definition of operational independence for forces to follow, he added: “Police chiefs, police and crime commissioners, mayors and senior politicians should be keenly aware of the risk posed by inappropriate political interference, whether real or perceived.”

The 129-page report also highlighted an incident in which Sunak apparently backtracked after initially criticizing a police officer who dealt with protesters.

Sunak told the BBC he was “horrified” by video footage of an interaction between a Jewish man and a police officer during a pro-Palestine protest in April, which sparked calls for Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign.

Nine days later, when a longer clip of the interaction was released, showing the officer had handled the confrontation reasonably, the then prime minister declared he had confidence in Sir Mark.

The report said: “Senior politicians should take great care to ensure they have all the facts before making public statements that could have a damaging effect on public perceptions of police impartiality.”

It also found that some police and crime commissioners (PCCs) mistakenly believe that chief constables are their employees and must implement their policing and crime plan.

An official said they received three to four emails a day from their PCC’s office asking for an operational response to certain issues.

Chief constables who need a contract extension to reach retirement age are under increased pressure to keep PCCs happy, the report found.

Many officials told the watchdog that municipal councilors and members of parliament had tried to influence the operational police.

“In one force, interviewees told us of an MP who contacted a chief mate by phone about the police response to a public demonstration that had blocked a road.

“The MP had told the official that they would get a call from the ‘minister’ if they did not get the road open,” the report said.

Another interviewee said that PCCs, MPs and councilors receive “an improved service” because they have a direct line to senior officials.

They claimed that officers “drop everything” for them.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said the report highlighted the “complex balance” facing force leaders.

“Police and crime commissioners, MPs and other elected officials have a very important role in speaking up for and reflecting the views of the people who elect them. They also hold the police to account,” he says.

“For that accountability to be effective, police officers must have independence in their operational decision-making.

“We are a police service for every community and when making decisions the police must remain independent and empowered to keep the public safe without undue influence.”

Mrs Braverman and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners have been contacted for comment.

A Government spokesperson said: “Our police officers face challenges every day and act without fear or favor to keep our streets safe, and it’s important they are supported.

“The government strongly supports operational independence, which is the basis of our police model.

“We welcome the report and will work closely with the police to consider the recommendations.”