to think that just because you say something about Israel and Gaza does not mean that you should be threatened with arrest under the terrorism act?

[cakeorwine]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/17/armed-police-threatened-to-arrest-kent-protester-for-holding-palestinian-flag

She had a sign saying "Free Gaza" and "Israel is committing genocide"

She was threatened with arrest under the terrorism act because a certain group that has been deemed to be a terrorist group also share those same views - and therefore the lady was supporting a terrorist group.

In the encounter, which she filmed, one officer told her: “Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government.”

He went on to say that the phrase “Free Gaza” was “supportive of Palestine Action”, adding it was an offence “to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action is an offence under section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act”. The officer told her she had committed that offence.

I can think of many groups who share those same beliefs. Having that belief does not mean you support that group.

A Kent police spokesperson said: “Under the Terrorism Act it is a criminal offence to carry or display items that may arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation such as Palestine Action.”

"Tell us who you are or we will arrest you for being a potential terrorist"

Is this the kind of country people want to live in?

What about the example I posted then? Those people were wrongly arrested. The police admitted it and were forced to issue an apology. So clearly they do get it wrong.

They also royally screwed up the case of Andrew Malkinson - there's considerable evidence that they made very serious errors which led to his conviction for a crime he did not commit. 17 years behind bars is pretty serious stuff.

Stop idealising the police.

I really should have learned posters' intentions from the Kneecap thread. It's all too obvious.

Stop making their job more difficult.

When Labour introduced the Terrorism Act in 2000, it emphasised that the law would only target crimes involving “the threat or use of serious violence”. Some MPs at the time had feared that it may be used against protest groups. The then-home secretary Jack Straw reassured them: there was no reason to believe that such group’s actions “would fall remotely” under the law’s scope.

In Labour's case, I think it's because they're genuinely too stupid to understand the consequences of their bright ideas. "I want this law but only to be used when I consider it should be and only against people I don't like" - which isn't how laws work. Other, less charitable, interpretations are available.

See also, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

What, by protesting? That is a legal right we have, because we live in a democratic country that has freedom of speech. The police are going to have to deal with the complexities that brings. Are you really saying you are in favour of not allowing people to protest? That would be very authoritarian of you.

In Labour's case, I think it's because they're genuinely too stupid to understand the consequences of their bright ideas.

Not just Labour - the previous government did it too. It's politicians in general.

"Tell us who you are or we will use the UK Terrorism Act to arrest you"

Do you want to live in such a country?

I don't really think you believe that anyone who expresses an opinion on Gaza should be arrested under the UK Terrorism Act as a potential terrorist.

It is just possible that the police misused their powers, misunderstood the law and used the law to threaten someone with arrest unless they told them their details.

The police have made it clear what would be an arrestable offence. Since 7/10, they've had to police huge protests taking away attention to crimes relevant in the UK. This inevitably is going to lead to tension and often police mishandling. I do think this selective outrage of police misconduct is amusing. I seem to recall Tommy Robinson's arrest for presence within the vicinity of a protest, to be celebrated on here. It turned out the police were wrong. Funny that.

Really? You are ok with this?

So you presumably know that the German government passed laws in the 1930s that made it illegal for "non Aryans" to be employed in the civil service, then in healthcare and eventually limited the number in school because they were "worried about overcrowding".

You are happy with the US passing laws now that make it ok for their own citizens to be taken off the streets and incarcerated or deported?

If you think it's ok to support these laws then I point you to the Neimoller poem; First They Came.

I guess and get that you are feeling persecuted, but really all of us are in the same boat. Populations don't win under authoritarianism.

The police have said:

This Saturday’s Palestine Coalition protest is the first large scale eventof its kind since the proscription of Palestine Action and I want to make sure the implications of that change in the law are fully understood.

“Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don’t stray into hate speech or other offences.

“However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.

................................................................................................

So how will the police know what is "supporting the Palestine cause" and "Expressing support for Palestine Action"

(which is what this thread is all about)

news.met.police.uk/news/met-reiterates-warning-on-support-for-proscribed-organisations-ahead-of-saturday-protests-499476

I’m pretty certain the person in the pic is trans (Apols if I’m wrong), however, that doesn’t take away from the fact that the scope of terrorism has apparently widened to include holding a sign saying ‘Free Gaza’.

It’s almost as though they are trying to remove the name Gaza from public discourse altogether in the hope everyone will forget it. It’s quite sinister.

I pray enough Palestinians remain alive by the time the current American administration changes. There will have to be a recalibration of sanity and fairness as the the majority of ordinary people across the world and increasingly in America can see this isn’t right but the penalties for saying so are currently very severe.

They should absolutely be free to express their outrage at what is happening in Gaza.

However I’d also strongly recommend that they have a really hard honest think about why they’re motivated to express outrage and concentrate their anger on this one particular conflict. The world is full of horrible conflicts, suffering and unfairness.

So, why is Gaza the one conflict that has galvanised them in this way?

And this does sound like a threat from the police

“I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.

Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don’t stray into hate speech or other offences.

“However, those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested.

I agree.

I've never had time for the former but am growing exasperated at the bandwagon jumping Tiktok idiots who are increasingly extremist. Well when you play stupid games you win stupid prizes.

Anybody acting violently, I presume. Any chants or slogans that are prohibited, will be included. Remember Mr throatcut?

Absolutely. I've given this thread more time than I intended. Sometimes, you can't overlook stupidity.

So you agree that anyone who displays a sign saying "Gaza should be free" should be arrested under the UK Terrorism Act?

I mean the Met Police don't agree with that statement as they have said "Nobody will be committing an offence by simply supporting the Palestinian cause, taking part in the march or carrying flags, banners or other signs providing they don’t stray into hate speech or other offences"

It is just possible that Kent Police got it wrong and misused their powers.

Suffragettes were using bombs amongst other tactics and were considered terrorists.
My great×2 aunt was a Suffragette who went to jail and went on hunger strike and endured force feeding as terrorist for pouring water in a postbox.
You might want to choose a better analogy

So no comment on the fact that the Met Police think it's ok to express support for the Palestinian cause?

It's a great analogy.

Suffragettes wanted votes for women.
They got sent to jail for using bombs.

If someone held up a sign saying "Votes for women", does that make them a terrorist?

I've already acknowledged this. You've really worn out my patience.

No you haven't

You said that the police have "The police have made it clear what would be an arrestable offence"

I gave you what the police have actually said.

Which is that showing support for the Palestinan cause is not an arrestable offence.

It is a great analogy.
Thank god women like your great aunt x2 did protest enough and endured horrible treatment so we could all vote today. And thank god people have not stopped raising awareness at the carnage inflicted upon Palestine today. Even as they are called fuckwits and useful idiots and stupid by the many pro Israelis that would rather we took our focus off Gaza and directed it somewhere, anywhere, else.....and inferred we are antisemitic because we don't.