UK’s ‘terrorism’ laws risk overreach, watchdog warns

UK watchdog warns against overreach in targeting activist groups under ‘counterterrorism’ laws.The British government risks stretching “counterterrorism” laws beyond their original ⁠purpose by using such powers against activist groups, a United Kingdom “terrorism” watchdog has said.In his annual report examining the use of Britain’s “terrorism” legislation during 2024, independent ⁠reviewer Jonathan Hall said the subsequent banning of pro-Palestine group Palestine Action had exposed “real uncertainty” over whether serious damage to property alone should qualify as “terrorism”.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3More than 500 arrested at UK protest against Palestine Action banlist 2 of 3Photos: UK police arrest more than 500 people at Palestine Action rallylist 3 of 3British universities paid security firm to ‘spy’ on pro-Palestine studentsend of listThe law’s broad wording could without clearer limits risk pulling protest activity into “terrorism” policing, even where there is no intent to harm people, ‌Hall said.“There is no legal authority on what ‘serious damage to property’ means,” Hall wrote, saying the definition could extend beyond violent attacks to acts such as criminal damage, depending on how courts interpret the threshold.While he said it was unthinkable to remove property damage entirely from the legal definition of “terrorism”, he suggested lawmakers could narrow the test, for example, by requiring a risk to life, a national security dimension or exclusion ⁠for non-violent protest.His report comes as the government appeals a ⁠High Court ruling that found the banning of Palestine Action unlawful on the grounds of free speech.The ban, imposed in July 2025, remains in force pending the outcome of the appeal. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned ⁠at the time that using ”counterterrorism” legislation to implement the ban on Palestine Action risked “hindering the legitimate exercise of fundamental freedoms across ⁠the UK”.