Sixty more people to be prosecuted for 'showing support' for proscribed Palestine Action, Met Police says
This follows the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was proscribed on 7 July, including 522 in central London during a protest last Saturday.
Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions, said: "The decisions that we have announced today are the first significant numbers to come out of the recent protests, and many more can be expected in the next few weeks.
"We are ready to make swift decisions in all cases where arrests have been made."
The Metropolitan Police said it has been working closely with Counter Terrorism Policing, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), and the Attorney General's Office "to process the case files, with more prosecutions expected in the coming weeks".
Palestine Action was proscribed in July after the group claimed responsibility for damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and was also linked to "allegations of a serious assault on staff and police officers at a business premises in South Gloucestershire," Met Police said.
"Proscription of Palestine Action made membership or support of it a criminal offence," the force said.
Last week, the Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, linked to Palestine Action, following the arrests of three individuals at a protest in Parliament Square on 5 July.
Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police commissioner, said: "I am proud of how our police and CPS teams have worked so speedily together to overcome misguided attempts to overwhelm the justice system.
"If necessary, we are able to investigate and quickly charge significant numbers of people each week if people want the potentially life-changing consequences of a terrorist conviction.
"At the same time, we will continue to police the numerous protests each week where people express their views in support of Palestine without choosing to break counter-terrorism laws by supporting proscribed terror groups."
The Met said the consequences for those charged under the Terrorism Act include a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment.
If a person is a member of a professional body, they may face disciplinary proceedings and potentially lose their job. Their future job applications could also be affected, as employers may see their records.
Additionally, they might be denied admission to university courses and entry to several countries, including the US, Australia, and Japan, the Met said.
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