Latest news with #Wymondham
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Police arrest 13 people at Palestine Action protest in Norwich
Police arrested 13 people at a protest in Norfolk on Saturday on suspicion of showing support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. A group assembled outside City Hall in St Peters Street, Norwich, holding placards referencing the organisation, Norfolk police said. The force said they were arrested on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, contrary to section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. It added: 'Five of those arrested have been taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning, where they remain. The remaining eight people were spoken to by officers and provided their details for further investigation. They were therefore de-arrested. 'A 14th person had their sign seized by officers during the protest and provided their details when requested.' Norfolk police superintendent Wes Hornigold said: 'We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly, however the actions of this group were unlawful. 'Our officers' role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this. Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.' The arrests came a day after the Metropolitan police said a further 60 people will be prosecuted for alleged support of Palestine Action. The force said this followed the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on 5 July, including 522 in central London last Saturday. More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said. The Met last week confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences under the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action. On Friday, organisations including Greenpeace and Human Rights Watch wrote to the attorney general for England and Wales arguing that protesters arrested for supporting the organisation should not be prosecuted until a legal challenge to a ban on the group has been heard. [ Palestine Action was proscribed last month by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police make multiple arrests at Norwich protest supporting Palestine Action
Officers have arrested 13 people at a protest in Norwich in support of the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action, Norfolk Police said. The force said a group assembled outside City Hall in St Peters Street holding placards in support of Palestine Action. 'These people were all arrested on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000,' Norfolk Police said. 'Five of those arrested have been taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning, where they remain. 'The remaining eight people were spoken to by officers and provided their details for further investigation. 'They were therefore de-arrested. 'A 14th person had their sign seized by officers during the protest and provided their details when requested.' Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: 'We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly, however the actions of this group were unlawful. 'Our officers' role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this. 'Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.' The arrests came a day after the Metropolitan Police said a further 60 people will be prosecuted for support Palestine Action. The force said this followed the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on July 5, including 522 in central London last Saturday. More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks, and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said. Last week, the Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences under the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action. The three people charged were arrested at a protest in Parliament Square on July 5. 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, the force said. Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions, said: 'The public has a democratic right to protest peacefully in this country, and I understand the depth of feeling around the horrific scenes in Gaza. 'However, Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organisation and those who have chosen to break the law will be subject to criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act. 'When protest conduct crosses the line from lawful activity into criminality, we have a duty to enforce the law. 'People should be clear about the real-life consequences for anyone choosing to support Palestine Action. 'A terrorism conviction can severely impact your life and career – it can restrict your ability to travel overseas and work in certain professions. 'I urge people to think very carefully about their actions at protests. 'Anyone who chooses to disobey the law will have to face the consequences.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Police make multiple arrests at Norwich protest supporting Palestine Action
Officers have arrested 13 people at a protest in Norwich in support of the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action, Norfolk Police said. The force said a group assembled outside City Hall in St Peters Street holding placards in support of Palestine Action. 'These people were all arrested on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000,' Norfolk Police said. 'Five of those arrested have been taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning, where they remain. 'The remaining eight people were spoken to by officers and provided their details for further investigation. 'They were therefore de-arrested. 'A 14th person had their sign seized by officers during the protest and provided their details when requested.' Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: 'We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly, however the actions of this group were unlawful. 'Our officers' role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this. 'Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.' The arrests came a day after the Metropolitan Police said a further 60 people will be prosecuted for support Palestine Action. The force said this followed the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on July 5, including 522 in central London last Saturday. More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks, and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said. Last week, the Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences under the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action. The three people charged were arrested at a protest in Parliament Square on July 5. 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, the force said. Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions, said: 'The public has a democratic right to protest peacefully in this country, and I understand the depth of feeling around the horrific scenes in Gaza. 'However, Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organisation and those who have chosen to break the law will be subject to criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act. 'When protest conduct crosses the line from lawful activity into criminality, we have a duty to enforce the law. ' People should be clear about the real-life consequences for anyone choosing to support Palestine Action. 'A terrorism conviction can severely impact your life and career – it can restrict your ability to travel overseas and work in certain professions. 'I urge people to think very carefully about their actions at protests. 'Anyone who chooses to disobey the law will have to face the consequences.'
Daily Mail
11-08-2025
- Daily Mail
Tortoise who made daring escape from owner's garden found one MONTH later...THREE miles away
They might be known for adopting a somewhat lesiurly pace. But a tortoise that managed to escape from its garden spent a month on the run - before being discovered in a field three miles away. Owner Sallyanne Brooksbank, 55, had given up on seeing pet Matilda again after she apparently scaled a corgette plant to make her great escape in early July. But the runaway reptile was discovered in a field by walkers last week, who handed the tortoise in at a local shop. The shopkeepers then posted a message about the find on Facebook - where it was spotted by Sallyanne. The married mother-of-three from Wymondham in Leicestershire said it was a 'miracle' to have Matilda home. She added: 'She must have had quite an adventure. 'We were distraught when she went missing. We searched the garden over and over, but I thought we'd never see her again. 'Now she's back, we've all got a massive smile on our faces.' Sales director Sallyanne told the BBC how saucer-sized Matilda, a Hermann's tortoise, must have escaped the garden by climbing the stalk of a courgette plant in a raised bed beside a fence. The 12-year-old Hermann tortoise was discovered near the village of Sewstern on Thursday. She said: 'We've been trying to work out her route, but it has to have been through several fences, across fields, a ditch, a road, a stream and who knows what else. 'She's not very agile. She could have been attacked or squashed by a car - but she seems fine. 'If anything, she might have grown a bit.' Mrs Brooksbank, who runs her own business, added: 'There are no marks on her shell, and she gobbled up the food we gave her. 'We think she climbed up the corgette plant and then slid down a leaf. 'She seems happy to be home, and I know we are happy to have her back.' Mrs Brooksband said the tortoise was bought as a present for her then ten-year-old son, Rory, who is now 22. 'He kept her record of her measurements', Mrs Brooksband said. 'When Rory first weighed her in September 2013 Matilda was only 13grams. 'I have just weighed her again and she now tips the scales at 300g, even though she's still tiny.' She said Matilda had been found thanks to the 'power of social media', adding: 'We don't know who found her, but I'd love to thank them.' Hermann's tortoises are the most common species of tortoise kep as pets and despite their image, can move at speeds approaching five miles per hour. They generally live for anywhere between 30 and 70 years and hail from southern Europe.
BBC News
11-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Escaped tortoise back home in Wymondham after month on the run
A tortoise has been reunited with its relieved owners a month after making a not-so-swift escape from their Brooksbank said she had all but given up on ever seeing pet Matilda again after she went missing in early the 10-year-old tortoise was discovered by walkers in a field three miles (4.82km) from home in Wymondham in Leicestershire on Thursday and has now been safely returned."She must have had quite an adventure," Mrs Brooksbank said. "We were distraught when she went missing. We searched the garden over and over, but I thought we'd never see her again."Now she's back we've all got a massive smile on our faces." The walkers who found Matilda picked her up and took her to a nearby Brooksbank said discovered the tortoise had been found when she spotted a post by the shopkeepers on Facebook."It's the power of social media," she added."We don't know who found her, but I'd love to thank them." Mrs Brooksbanks said Matilda, a Hermann tortoise, appeared to be none the worse for her roaming."We wish she could speak because we'd love to know how far she got," she added."She's not very agile, but I think she may have climbed up a courgette stalk to get out of the garden. "She headed off in the direction of Sewstern."We've been trying to work out her route, but it has to have been through several fences, across fields, a ditch, a road, a stream and who knows what else."Mrs Brooksbanks said Matilda was small and about the size of a saucer, adding it was "a miracle" to have her said: "She could have been attacked or squashed by a car - but she seems fine."If anything, she might have grown a bit."There are no marks on her shell, and she gobbled up the food we gave her."She seems happy to be home, and I know we are happy to have her back."
