Palestine Action supporters arrested as London’s Met Police reverse policy

Arrests come days after force announced U-turn, saying that despite High Court ruling, ‘terror’ ban remains in place.London’s Metropolitan Police have arrested 18 supporters of Palestine-action" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="73" data-entity-type="organization">Palestine Action, days after the force promised to resume arrests in a reversal of policy.The protesters had sat on the steps of New Scotland Yard, the Met’s headquarters, on Saturday, holding signs that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine-action" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="73" data-entity-type="organization">Palestine Action.”Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Keffiyehs seized, left to die’: Inside the Palestine-action" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="73" data-entity-type="organization">Palestine Action hunger strikelist 2 of 3In U-turn, UK police say Palestine-action" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="73" data-entity-type="organization">Palestine Action protesters will be arrested againlist 3 of 3‘Far right won’t take over our streets’: Huge crowds march through Londonend of listOfficers made the arrests under “terrorism” legislation.Following the High Court’s ruling in February that banning Palestine-action" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="73" data-entity-type="organization">Palestine Action as a “terrorist group” was unlawful, the force had said it would adopt a “proportionate approach” and stop arresting the group’s supporters and focus instead on gathering evidence.But on Wednesday, Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said that since any “impact of that judgement will not take effect until the government’s appeal has been considered, which could take many months”, it would resume arrests. “We must enforce the law as it is at the time, not as it might be at a future date,” he said.As she was led away by two officers on Saturday, one woman, in footage posted to social media, can be heard saying: “I’m being arrested for holding a cardboard sign, whereas our government feels the need to sell weapons and use our airbases to commit genocide in Palestine.”Critics say the Met’s U-turn defies the court ruling.Palestine-action" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="73" data-entity-type="organization">Palestine Action is a direct action campaign group which has targeted weapons manufacturers linked to Israel and an RAF base.The government proscribed it as a “terrorist organisation” in July 2025, placing it alongside groups including al-Qaeda and Hezbollah. The High Court called the move “disproportionate” and in breach of freedom of expression.