London Palestine Action protest arrests

Police say 532 people were arrested at a London protest in support of Palestine Action, with many detained for displaying placards.

Civil liberties in focus after 532 arrests at London Palestine Action protest

Police said 532 people were arrested at the Palestine Action protest in Parliament Square on Saturday, the largest since the group was proscribed last month. Most arrests were under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act for displaying supportive placards, with nearly 100 detained in their 70s and 15 in their 80s. Of 519 arrests with confirmed birth dates, just under half were aged 60 or older.

The Met added that a small number were held for other offences, including obstructing officers and breaches of public order rules. Among those detained were Sir Jonathon Porritt, 75, and Chris Romberg, 75, both arrested under Section 13. Poet Alice Oswald, 58, was detained under Section 12 for inviting support for a proscribed group. The home secretary had proscribed Palestine Action last month after activists damaged jets at the RAF Brize Norton base. The Met defended its approach, saying it provided water and toilets at processing points and urged personal responsibility from those who chose to participate.

The sheer scale of the arrests tests the line between keeping the peace and policing dissent. The fact that many detainees were older suggests protests can mobilize across generations, complicating political narratives around security and civil liberties. While officials frame the action as necessary to prevent potential attacks, critics argue that use of anti terrorism powers in non violent, symbolic protests risks chilling rights to express viewpoints. The proscription of Palestine Action has intensified debate about government methods to curb support for a proscribed group and the risk of overreach in policing\n. Public confidence will hinge on whether arrests and processing meet duty of care expectations and whether authorities maintain transparency about the legal basis for detention and charging. The episode underscores a broader tension between security measures and democratic rights in a time of volatile regional conflicts.

Highlights

The balance between safety and rights will shape future protests and policy decisions.