Police arrest 25 people over Palestine Action placards at Birmingham city centre protest
25 people were arrested at a protest in Birmingham city centre today after allegedly showing support for the banned direct-action group Palestine Action.
West Midlands Police said the arrests were made today (Saturday) during a demonstration organised by Defend Our Juries in Chamberlain Square, at which a number of people carried placards expressing support for Palestine Action.
Palestine Action was proscribed by the Government in July this year, meaning it is an offence to be a member of it or express support for it. Defend Our Juries has organised demonstrations with the aim of having the group removed from the proscription list.
Those arrested in Birmingham were taken into custody under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Chief Inspector James Littlehales said: “We fully recognise people’s right to demonstrate peacefully, and many people continue to protest in support of Palestine without breaking the law.
"But we will take appropriate action where people are breaching the law by showing support for proscribed organisations."
Palestine Action was listed as a proscribed terrorist organisation earlier this year after supporters caused millions of pounds worth of damage to defence firms.
The ban, which began on July 5, made membership of, or support for, the direct-action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
