A police constable who told a crowd in east London that a Christian had the right to preach his faith on the streets has been commended by the Met Police’s Assistant Commissioner.

A video of PC Moule defending the preacher against taunts by members of the Muslim community in Whitechapel went viral on social media.

During the exchange, PC Moule could be heard saying: "I understand that you don't want to hear it but I would recommend that you just move away and don't listen to him."

After, one bystander said: "We live here," and the officer replied: "But he's not in your home."

She also told the person: "You can preach about your religion the same way he can preach about his."

When the bystander accused the preacher of inciting hatred, the officer tells him: "He's not."

After Susan Hall, the leader of the London Assembly’s Conservative group, praised PC Moule in an interview, the Met Police’s Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the officer had done “great work” and added: “My view is it was a good example of officers showing policing common sense without fear or favour and doing a good job.”