Hundreds to face arrest at protest against Palestine Action terror ban
The Metropolitan Police said it has drawn officers in from other forces to help form a 'significant policing presence' in the capital as it faces a busy weekend of protests.
More than 500 people are expected to hold up placards supporting the proscribed group in Parliament Square, after organisers Defend Our Juries announced earlier this week the event would go ahead.
The ban means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
It comes days after the first three people to be charged with supporting the group in England and Wales were named.
Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, also 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month.
More than 200 people have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: 'The Met is very experienced at dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality, requiring arrests.
'While we will not go into the specific details of our plan, the public can be assured that we will have the resources and processes in place to respond to any eventuality.
'Anyone showing support for Palestine Action can expect to be arrested. I would once again urge people to consider the seriousness of that outcome.
'An arrest under the Terrorism Act can have very real long-term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances. Also, as we have seen this week, it is very likely an arrest in these circumstances will lead to a charge.'
Two marches organised by the Palestine Coalition and pro-Israeli group Stop the Hate, respectively, will also be held on consecutive days in central London.
The coalition's supporters will march from Russell Square to Whitehall followed by an assembly with speeches.
Public order conditions have been imposed on the march which means it must not form or begin before noon, protesters must not deviate from or stop to form assemblies along the agreed route and the protest must end by 5.30pm, the Met said.
Other major events in London this weekend include the Community Shield match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Wembley, which will require sizeable police resources.
'This is going to be a particularly busy few days in London with many simultaneous protests and events that will require a significant policing presence,' Mr Adelekan said.
'I'm grateful not just to the Met officers who will be working incredibly hard over the coming days but to those colleagues from other forces who have been deployed to London to support us.'
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Hellbent on arrest, more than 360 activists of outlawed Palestine Action goad police to detain them - at cost of up to £3million for taxpayers
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This is money that could have been spent catching drug dealers, gang members, phone thieves and shoplifters. 'Those supporting a banned organisation should feel the full force of the law. Palestine Action is a violent group that seeks to impose its views on others through force. They smash up property, vandalise RAF planes and have even attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer. 'Those illegally supporting Palestine Action are supporting political violence.' To prevent London's police cells from being overwhelmed, the Met established a so-called 'prisoner- processing point' in nearby King Charles Street. Under three gazebos, arrested activists were asked for their names and addresses and had their fingerprints taken. They were then bailed and told to return to a police station at a future date. Some, however, immediately returned to the protest on Parliament Square and were re-arrested for breaching their bail conditions. 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Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
UK police arrest more than 466 at protest for banned Palestine Action group
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Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Woman wearing Palestine Action T-shirt arrested in Belfast
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