Met says it will resume arresting people who show support for Palestine Action | UK news
The Metropolitan Police has said it will continue to arrest people who show support for Palestine Action, just weeks after it said it would no longer do so following a high court ruling that a ban on the direct action group was unlawful.
Following last month’s decision, the Met police said it would immediately stop arresting people for such offenses under the Terrorism Act but would collect evidence for possible future investigations.
However, on Wednesday, it announced that it had “revised” its implementation approach, describing the statement made immediately after the high court’s decision as a “temporary stance”.
Assistant deputy commissioner James Harman said: “The high court confirmed that although the ban on Palestine Action was unlawful, the impact of this decision will not become apparent until the government’s appeal is considered, which could take months.
“This means that supporting Palestine Action is still a criminal offence.
“We must apply the law as it is at that moment, not at some future date. We must do so consistently, without fear or favor.”
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood’s appeal against the high court’s decision is expected to be heard in the court of appeal on April 28 and 29, and in the meantime, the ban will remain in force.
Harman said the Met had to seek advice immediately after the verdict because protesters outside the court demonstrated in support of Palestine Action, and it was not known whether Mahmood would be given permission to appeal or – if so – whether the ban would be lifted pending appeal.
“Having considered our position in light of this decision, we have decided that, taking into account all the circumstances, while the Palestine Action remains prohibited and support for the action remains illegal under the Terrorism Act, we must continue to enforce the law, and that this will likely include the arrest of those who committed crimes,” Harman said.
Defend Our Juries (DOJ), which has organized protests that saw more than 2,500 people arrested for allegedly supporting Palestine Action, wrote to Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley last week after the group said a woman was arrested in London on March 15 for carrying a banner reading “I still oppose genocide. I still support Palestine Action.” The DOJ had previously announced that it was planning a mass vigil on April 11.
Also Wednesday, protesters affiliated with the Palestine Movement, who began a hunger strike in prison while awaiting trial, said they were consulting lawyers to take legal action against prison officials for alleged medical negligence while refusing to eat.
Heba Muraisi, who has been on hunger strike for the longest time among the protesters and has been on hunger strike for 73 days, said at a press conference in London that she was not given electrolytes and only took vitamins after 30 days. Qesser Zuhrah, who was on hunger strike for 48 days, said that he did not take electrolytes until the 20th day of his action, and that electrolytes were withdrawn after he fainted on the 42nd day.
Kamran Ahmed, who has been on hunger strike for 66 days, said he was still suffering from chest pain and shortness of breath due to the protest, while others said they were experiencing neurological problems. “The main takeaway is that we are all subject to trauma from the hunger strike,” he said. “Everyone who participated in the hunger strike was dehumanized, there was medical negligence.”
Responding to allegations of medical negligence, a government spokesman said: “All individuals were managed in accordance with long-standing policy while in prison.
“This includes regular checks by medical teams, heart monitoring, blood tests and again eating and drinking support. Prisoners deemed suitable by medical teams were taken to the hospital.”
