Police have arrested 18 Palestine Action supporters who were staging a protest outside New Scotland Yard today.
The arrests were confirmed by the Metropolitan Police in an X post, and it comes after the police force vowed to resume arresting people who show support for the group.
’18 people are outside New Scotland Yard, where they are staging a protest in support of Palestine Action, which is a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act. Officers are present, and arrests will begin shortly,’ the Met Police said earlier today.
Shortly after, the police force confirmed that ‘arrests are now underway outside Scotland Yard.’
The Met police stopped arresting Palestine Action supporters following a High Court ruling last month that the ban on the direct action group was unlawful.
After the judgment, the Met said it would stop arresting people for such offences under the Terrorism Act but would gather evidence for potential future prosecutions.
But earlier this week, it said it had ‘revised’ its enforcement approach, and said that the statement made after the high court’s decision was an ‘interim position.’
Deputy assistant commissioner James Harman said: ‘While the high court has found the proscription of Palestine Action to be unlawful, it has confirmed the impact of that judgment will not take effect until the government’s appeal has been considered, which could take many months.
‘That means it is still a criminal offence to support Palestine Action.
Police have arrested 18 Palestine Action supporters who were staging a protest outside New Scotland Yard today
The arrests were confirmed by the Metropolitan Police in an X post and it comes after the police force vowed to resume arresting people who show support for the group
The Met said: ’18 people are outside New Scotland Yard, where they are staging a protest in support of Palestine Action, which is a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act. Officers are present, and arrests will begin shortly’
Palestine Action was proscribed on July 5 last year by former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after some high-profile violent protests. Being a member of, or showing support for, the group became an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison
‘We must enforce the law as it is at the time, not as it might be at a future date. We must do that consistently and without fear or favour.’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s appeal against the High Court’s decision is due to be heard at the Court of Appeal at the end of April.
The High Court’s ruling came as a massive blow to the government and means that more than 2,000 people who were arrested for holding signs or displaying messages supporting the group may now have proceedings dropped.
Palestine Action was proscribed on July 5 last year by former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after some high-profile violent protests, including a raid on a UK-based defence company that saw a female PC attacked with a sledgehammer.
As a result, being a member of, or showing support for, the group became an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
