The Met Police has apologised after a picture surfaced of two officers posing with a child holding a Palestine placard.

The photograph was taken at a pro-Palestinian march on Saturday in London and features a child holding a sign with the flag of Palestine and the words “Save Our Children!”.

The child, who is wearing a red and white scarf known as a keffiyeh, can be seen posing with a smiling male and female police officer.

The image rapidly spread across social media, with users questioning the officers’ impartiality.

The force has admitted that it was “not advisable” for the two officers to pose with the child at the rally.

Writing on social media, Scotland Yard said: “We always encourage our officers to be engaging and friendly with the public.

“However, in the context of a protest about such a contentious issue we acknowledge that it was not advisable for the officer to agree to pose for the photograph.

“No action will be taken against the officer who we have no reason to think was doing anything other than trying to positively engage.”