Metropolitan Police officers arrested several demonstrators at the London US Embassy this past Saturday . The arrests targeted individuals displaying signs in support of Palestine Action, an organization recently designated as a terrorist group under UK law.
The Court of Appeal's June reversal on the Palestine Action ban
The legal status of Palestine Action changed significantly after a June 2025 Court of Appeal ruling. While co-founder Huda Ammori initially secured a victory in the High Court in February—ruling that then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision was unlawful—five appellate judges later overturned that decision . The Court of Appeal concluded that the proscription of the group was a "justified and proportionate" measure regarding freedom of expression.
As the report states, this designation makes it a criminal offense to express support for the organization. The group's recent activities have been heavily shaped by this legal shift, particularly as activists attempt to protest the US government's role in the Palestinian conflict.
Commander Adam Slonecki's crackdown on logistical support
Metropolitan Police Commander Adam Slonecki has signaled a zero-tolerance aproach to supporting proscribed groups. During the Saturday protest, police moved quickly to arrest those holding signs that read, "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." Slonecki emphasized that the crackdown extends beyond those holding placards to include anyone providing instructions or logistical aid to the movement.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the enforcement strategy is proactive rather than reactive. Slonecki noted that anyone providing logistical support to those displaying prohibited signs should expect to be arrested, asserting that the police are acting to address criminality rather than simply suppressing views.
A £1.3 million policing bill for public order events
Managing public order events has become an expensive endeavor for the Metropolitan Police. A freedom of information request revealed that the Met spent £1.3 million on just six "Palestine-Israel public order events" during June and July. Scotland Yard has defended these expenditures by claiming that Palestine Action-related portests divert essential police resources away from local neighborhoods and communities.
The Supreme Court's decision on the limits of the Terrorism Act
Defend Our Juries is challenging the Metropolitan Police's recent enforcement actions ahead of a crucial Supreme Court hearing next week. The activist group has accused the police of "double standards" and a "significant escalation" in their tactics. They specifically questioned the legality of arresting individuals who provide logistical support to peaceful protesters, many of whom are elderly or disabled.
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing will likely address whether the current enforcement of the Terrorism Act constitutes an unprecedented attack on freedom of expression. unresolved questions remain regarding how the court will define "logistical support" and whether the Met's proactive policing of non-violent supporters is legally sustainable.
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