Metropolitan Police to restart arrests of Palestine Action protesters despite High Court ruling
The Metropolitan Police will continue to arrest protesters displaying banners supporting Palestine Action.
This follows a pause last month after the Supreme Court ruled that the government’s ban on the group was unlawful.
The Met announced on Wednesday that arrests would resume as an appeal against the decision is expected to take months.
Assistant Deputy Commissioner James Harman said: “The Supreme Court has confirmed that although it found the ban on Palestine Action to be unlawful, the effect of this decision will not take effect until the Government’s appeal has been 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.”
He continued: “The Supreme Court decided on 25 February to grant leave to appeal to the Minister of Internal Affairs and to leave the ban in force pending the outcome of the appeal.
“Having considered our position in the 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 is likely to include the arrest of those who committed crimes.”
More than 2,700 people have been arrested so far for allegedly supporting Palestine Action since it was banned as a terrorist organization last year.
Protesters held mass rallies, carrying banners reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
While the hearings of hundreds of people accused of carrying banners have been postponed, the legal struggle continues over whether the group should be banned.
Earlier this month, Chief Justice Paul Goldspring said the cases would be postponed until the Supreme Court appealed the ban.
The ban makes participating in or supporting Palestine Action a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
