Met arrests 523 over Palestine Action signs in London

Hundreds of you gathered in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 11 April. By late evening, the Met said 523 people had been arrested for showing support for a proscribed organisation; ages ranged from 18 to 87. Among those held was Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja, who joined sign‑holders sitting quietly on the square. The demonstration, billed as Everyone Day, was organised by Defend Our Juries. (news.sky.com)

You might be asking why arrests happened at all after headlines in February said the ban was “unlawful”. On 13 February 2026, the High Court ruled the government’s decision to outlaw Palestine Action was unlawful and disproportionate - but crucially kept the ban in place while ministers appeal. In law, that means the proscription still applies today, so “support” can still be a criminal offence. (apnews.com)

The Met initially reacted to the ruling by saying officers would focus on gathering evidence rather than arresting on the spot. Then, on 25 March, the force issued a revised position: because the group remains proscribed pending appeal, officers would resume arresting people who show support. That enforcement stance shaped Saturday’s operation. (news.met.police.uk)

So what does “proscribed” mean in the UK? Parliament can ban an organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. Once banned, several offences apply. Two matter here: inviting or recklessly expressing support for a proscribed organisation (section 12) and wearing, carrying or displaying an item in public in a way that arouses reasonable suspicion you are a member or supporter (section 13). Posting images online can also fall under section 13(1A). (gov.uk)

What it means for a placard: a sign that states “I support [proscribed group]” can be treated as displaying an article suggesting support under section 13. In previous mass operations, the Met has said most arrests of sign‑holders were for “displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation” under section 13, not for organising or funding terrorism. Saturday followed the same logic. (news.met.police.uk)

Context helps. Supporting “Palestine” or calling for a ceasefire is not the same, in law, as supporting Palestine Action. The Home Office framed the ban as specific to that group’s methods; wider, lawful protest about Gaza remains protected, even as debates about the limits of that protection continue. Your wording and intent matter in how the law is applied. (independent.co.uk)

Saturday’s arrests sit within a long‑running pattern. In September 2025, almost 900 people were detained in a single day at Parliament Square, the vast majority for alleged support offences. By late March 2026, more than 2,500 arrests linked to the ban had been recorded, before the latest Trafalgar Square total of 523. (apnews.com)

Why arrests resumed despite the court win: the High Court’s judgment signalled the ban should be quashed, but the judges paused that step until the government’s appeal is heard. Police say they must enforce the law as it stands today, not as it might be after the appeal. That’s why you saw officers warning in advance that arrests were likely. (apnews.com)

Know your rights if you attend. You have protest rights under Articles 10 and 11 of the Human Rights Act. If stopped, you don’t generally have to give your name and address in a routine “stop and account”. If officers reasonably suspect anti‑social behaviour, they may demand details under separate powers. If you are arrested, ask for a solicitor and consider a “no comment” interview until advised. This is general information, not legal advice. (libertyhumanrights.org.uk)

A practical digital note: publishing an image of a sign, badge or flag that suggests support for a proscribed group can itself be an offence under section 13(1A). Think before you post photos or videos that clearly link you to “support” wording for a banned organisation. (gov.uk)

What rights groups say: Amnesty International UK welcomed February’s ruling as a significant win for free expression and noted the judges’ view that ordinary criminal law is adequate to prosecute unlawful acts without a blanket ban. This is part of a wider public conversation about protest, safety and the shape of counter‑terror laws. (amnesty.org.uk)

What happens next: the government’s appeal is listed for late April. Until a court formally lifts the proscription, the ban continues to have legal effect. For anyone planning to attend future events, the risk calculus is straightforward: signs or statements that explicitly express support for Palestine Action may result in arrest while the appeal is unresolved. (theguardian.com)