Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A further 60 people will be prosecuted for showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action.
This follows the arrest of more than 700 people since the group’s proscription on 7 July.
The Metropolitan Police, Counter Terrorism Policing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Attorney General’s Office have been working closely together to process the case files with more prosecutions expected in the coming weeks. We have put arrangements in place that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary.
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. Proscription of Palestine Action made membership or support of it a criminal offence.
There is a difference between showing support for a proscribed organisation – an offence under the Terrorism Act – and legitimate protest in support of cause. Individuals are entitled to protest within the law, but where that activity breaks the law, the police will make arrests and the Crown Prosecution Service will bring prosecutions.
Last weekend in central London 15,000 people demonstrated peacefully in support of the Palestinian cause with only one arrest taking place. However, 522 were arrested for an illegal show of support for Palestine Action on the same day. There have been hundreds of protests expressing support for the Palestinian cause over the last two years without showing mass support for proscribed terrorist groups.
Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said:
“The decisions that we have announced today are the first significant numbers to come out of the recent protests, and many more can be expected in the next few weeks. We are ready to make swift decisions in all cases where arrests have been made.
“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.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said:
“I am proud of how our police and CPS teams have worked so speedily together to overcome misguided attempts to overwhelm the justice system. If necessary, we are able to investigate and quickly charge significant numbers of people each week if people want the potentially life-changing consequences of a terrorist conviction.
“At the same time, we will continue to police the numerous protests each week where people express their views in support of Palestine without choosing to break Counter Terrorism Laws by supporting proscribed terror groups.
“To be clear, these arrests and prosecutions do not outlaw people’s right to demonstrate in support of Palestine, or any other cause. They are simply the enforcement of a specific provision under the Terrorism Act in relation to a specific proscribed terrorist organisation, Palestine Action.
“Where officers see these offences, we will continue to make arrests and, as shown today, the CPS and police will work to quickly secure charges, at whatever scale is necessary.”
The consequences for those charged with offences under the Terrorism Act include:
•A maximum sentence of six months’ imprisonment.
•The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will have a record of a person’s TACT conviction, and this will be seen by employers who use DBS to carry out checks on staff or new applicants. The existence of a TACT conviction may be seen by employers as grounds for a refusal to employ a person or to dismiss them.
•Universities also carry out DBS checks, and may refuse entry to courses to those with terrorism convictions.
•Any application to visit another country usually requires a declaration of criminal convictions. A TACT conviction will be a potential bar to entry to countries including the US, Australia, Japan, and from 2026 when the ETIAS system is introduced, countries of the European Union.
•If a person is a member of a professional body, they may face disciplinary proceedings and potentially removal from the profession.