Palestine Action ‘not a normal protest group’ says Yvette Cooper as she defends decision to outlaw it as a terrorist organisation after courts blow
Yvette Cooper today defended her decision to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, insisting the organization was ‘not a normal protest group’.
Judges ruled on Friday that the decision he made while home secretary was illegal; This resulted in thousands of people being arrested for supporting the group in protests across the country.
The ban was in effect before the Supreme Court decision was appealed, but The Metropolitan Police said officers were unlikely to arrest people simply for showing support for Palestine Action until the legal situation was clarified.
Following the ruling, Home Affairs Minister Shabana Mahmood vowed to ‘challenge this decision in the Court of Appeal’, but a group of Labor supporters called on her to withdraw the case.
In a 46-page judgment on Friday, Dame Victoria Sharp said Ms Cooper’s prescription was ‘disproportionate’ and said the PAHe promotes his political cause through criminality and promotion of criminality, very few of his actions amount to acts of terrorism.’
Ms Cooper, who has since become Foreign Secretary, told Sky News today: ‘I followed clear advice and recommendations from a serious process that the Home Office went through… which was very clear in terms of the advice on the appointment of this group.
‘The court also concluded that this group was not a normal protest group, that this group committed terrorist acts, that this group not only did not comply with democratic values but also encouraged violence.
Yvette Cooper’s decision, made while the home secretary was outlawed, would lead to thousands of people being arrested for supporting the group, judges ruled on Friday.
Ms Cooper, who has since become Foreign Secretary, told Sky News today: ‘I followed clear advice and recommendations from a serious process that the Home Office went through… which was very clear in terms of the advice on the appointment of this group.
The High Court’s decision deals a major blow to the government and means more than 2,000 people arrested for holding banners or messages supporting the group can now have their cases dropped.
Palestine Action was banned by Ms Cooper on July 5 last year. A series of high-profile violent protests, including a raid on a UK-based defense company in which a female computer was attacked with a sledgehammer.
As a result, being a member of or showing support for the group became a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
S.hadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said she was ‘horrified’ by the Supreme Court decision.
The Witham MP told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: ‘It is right that they feel the full force of our laws, including the bans that are put in place. They are on par with the behavior of terrorist organizations and plan their attacks.
‘I think the public would be absolutely horrified to see that these individuals can actually get away with the type of activity that they have been able to engage in so far.’
While the judges ruled that the decision should be annulled, they warned that the group would remain banned pending Ms Mahmood’s appeal.
But for the Met Police this distinction now appears to be lost; The Met Police has said it will now stop arresting activists who speak out. Support Palestine Action and instead just ‘gather evidence’ against them.
A spokesman said: ‘Officers will continue to detect offenses where support for Palestine Action has been expressed, but rather than making arrests at the time, they will focus on gathering evidence of these offenses and the individuals involved to provide enforcement opportunities at a later date.
‘This is the most proportionate approach we can take, accepting the court’s decision while also recognizing that the trial is not yet fully concluded.’
Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, a UK-wide network of police and security service personnel, said it would be done. is now ‘pragmatically’ enforcing the ban on Palestine Action, raising the possibility of suspending arrests as well.
Lord Walney, who was appointed as an independent government adviser under the Conservatives, said last week he was “deeply disappointed”.
‘It is right that the Home Secretary objects to this deeply disappointing decision, which risks sending the signal that far-left activists may hold the country to ransom,’ he said.
‘While Palestine Action commits less violence than other proscribed groups, the criminal harm they systematically inflict clearly falls within the legal definition of terrorism.’
