London’s Metropolitan Police have announced that arrests of individuals accused of supporting the banned group Palestine Action will resume, despite an ongoing legal challenge over the UK government’s decision to proscribe the activist network under anti-terror legislation. In a statement on Wednesday, the Met said it had "revised" its enforcement approach after initially suggesting arrests would be unlikely following a High Court ruling last month that found the ban unlawful . The force described its earlier stance as an "interim position", noting that the UK Home Office’s appeal against the ban could take several months to be resolved. Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said: "While the high court has found the proscription of Palestine Action to be unlawful, it has confirmed the impact of that judgment will not take effect until the government’s appeal has been considered which could take many months. "That means it is still a criminal offence to support Palestine Action. We must enforce the law as it is at the time, not as it might be at a future date. We must do that consistently and without fear or favour."
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ’s appeal is due to be heard at the Court of Appeal on 28 and 29 April, with the ban remaining in force in the meantime. Harman said officers were initially required to take an immediate position following the ruling, as protesters outside the court were openly expressing support for Palestine Action and it was unclear whether the government would be granted permission to appeal, or whether the ban would be suspended during that process. "Having now considered our position in light of that decision, taking into account all the circumstances, we have determined that while Palestine Action remains proscribed and support for it remains unlawful under the Terrorism Act, we must continue to enforce the law and this is likely to involve the arrest of those committing offences," he said. More than 2,700 people have been arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action since it was banned as a "terrorist organisation" by the British government last year. Protests organised by the group Defend Our Juries have seen demonstrators hold signs reading: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action". However, the trials of hundreds of those charged have been paused amid the ongoing legal battle . Earlier this month, Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said cases would be delayed until after the appeal is heard. Defend Our Juries has warned of the wider impact of the crackdown, stating that thousands of people have seen their daily lives disrupted, including at least 16 individuals who have reportedly lost their jobs after attending demonstrations. Earlier this month, the group also said it had written to Mahmood urging her to reconsider the appeal. Under proscription laws, membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The group, founded in 2020, campaigns against companies linked to Israel’s arms industry and has carried out dozens of direct actions targeting sites including facilities associated with Elbit Systems as well as RAF Brize Norton. On Thursday, activists in Bristol blockaded an Elbit-linked factory, halting operations after around 60 protesters formed a human chain. A spokesperson for the local group Disarm Bristol said: "In January, Elbit was denied a £2 billion contract with the Ministry of Defence. In February, the high court ruled the proscription of Palestine Action unlawful on two grounds. Most of our brothers and sisters, imprisoned for resisting genocide, have been granted bail and able to return to their loved ones. These victories are symptoms of a bigger shift."