A police woman has been praised for her response to hecklers who shouted at a Christian street preacher and insisted that Whitechapel was a “Muslim area”.

In video footage shared online, the officer can be seen telling the men: “In this country, we have freedom of speech.”

“This is Whitechapel, this is a Muslim area,” a man could be heard saying, wearing a black face mask.

The group alleged that the preacher had criticised Mohammed and was “insulting” them by what he was saying.

“I understand that you guys don't want to hear [the evangelist], so I would just recommend that you move away and don't listen to them,” she said. “They’re not being aggressive.” 

“You are welcome to have conversations with [the preachers],” she added.

The footage was taken near East London Mosque, which can hold up to 7000 worshippers each day.

“Someone’s going to hear this, you never know, he could get smashed up,” retorted one of the men.

The officer calmly replied: “That’s their risk.”