UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Police in Norwich arrested 13 protesters for showing support for the banned group Palestine Action, five detained for questioning, others released.’
As reported by The Guardian, Norwich police arrested 13 people for allegedly supporting the banned group Palestine Action.
What did Norfolk police say about the Palestine Action protest arrests?
Police reported that protesters in Norwich held placards supporting Palestine Action outside City Hall. Officers confirmed the arrests were made over suspected support for a banned organisation. The arrests violated Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
They said,
“Five of those arrested have been taken to Wymondham police investigation centre for questioning, where they remain. The remaining eight people were spoken to by officers and provided their details for further investigation. They were therefore de-arrested.”
It added,
“A 14th person had their sign seized by officers during the protest and provided their details when requested.”
Palestine Action was banned by the Home Office after the group caused damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton and faced assault allegations.
Norfolk Police’s views on the unlawful protest in Norwich
Norfolk police superintendent Wes Hornigold stated,
“We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly; however, the actions of this group were unlawful.”
He added,
“Our officers’ role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community, and they will use their powers to do this. Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.”
What did the Metropolitan Police say about prosecutions for Palestine Action supporters?
The arrests followed the Met Police saying 60 more people face prosecution over Palestine Action.
Since Palestine Action was banned on 5 July, over 700 arrests have been made, including 522 in central London last Saturday.
The police warned that further arrests are expected in the coming weeks, with systems ready to handle numbers if needed.
The Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales under the Terrorism Act linked to Palestine Action.
What did Yvette Cooper say about Palestine Action protests?
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said,
“The right to protest is one we protect fiercely, but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation. Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage. It also follows an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group prepares for terrorism, as well as concerning information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings.”
She added,
“Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear – this is not a non-violent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority. Their actions are not about the horrific suffering in the Middle East and do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who are exercising their rights to protest peacefully.”
What did Amnesty Chief Sacha Deshmukh say about Gaza protests?
Amnesty International chief executive Sacha Deshmukh stated,
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. People are understandably outraged by the ongoing genocide being committed in Gaza and are entitled under international human rights law to express their horror.”
He added,
“We have long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad and vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression. These arrests demonstrate that our concerns were justified.”
What did Sir David Davis say about Palestine Action arrests?
Ex-Conservative cabinet minister Sir David Davis said the arrests were an “excessive use of counterterrorism law”, saying,
“they’ve gone over the top.”
He stated,
“We’ve not been given any evidence for the reasoning behind proscribing Palestine Action. I mean, they broke in and painted an aircraft; they did not set bombs or anything. So that’s the first question. What was the criterion? And then secondly, should you be arresting lots of people because they support a particular side and put up a banner?”
Mr Davis added,
“The authorities should be clearer about why they have proscribed Palestine Action.”