In a dramatic escalation of tensions surrounding the UK government’s ban on the protest group Palestine Action, police carried out dawn raids on September 2, 2025, arresting five key spokespeople from Defend Our Juries (DoJ)—a campaign group organizing mass defiance of the proscription. The arrests, which took place just hours before DoJ was set to hold a press conference about an upcoming protest, have sparked fierce debate about the boundaries of free speech, the use of counter-terrorism laws, and the future of political dissent in Britain.
According to BBC News, the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command led the operation, supported by regional counter-terrorism policing units in the North West and North East. The five individuals—three men and two women, aged between 26 and 61—were detained on suspicion of encouraging support for Palestine Action, a group officially proscribed as a terrorist organization earlier this year after several high-profile direct actions, including paint attacks on military equipment at RAF Brize Norton that reportedly caused £7 million in damages.
The list of those arrested includes Tim Crosland, a former government lawyer and co-founder of DoJ, and 25-year-old law student Paddy Friend. Friend, as reported by Novara Media, was apprehended after hosting a series of Zoom calls between July 10 and August 21, 2025, where legal advice was given to those planning to join the upcoming mass protest. In a video seen by the outlet, Friend is heard telling officers, “This is what happens, Britain in 2025, for opposing genocide,” as he is handcuffed and led away. Friend had previously told the BBC, “Palestine Action protest could ruin my career, but I felt I had to do it.”
The other arrested individuals include a 61-year-old woman in East London, a 48-year-old woman in Kendal, Cumbria, and a 39-year-old man in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. The group is being held under section 12 of the Terrorism Act, which makes it an offense to support or encourage support for a banned group. All five remain in custody as police inquiries continue.
Despite the high-profile arrests, Defend Our Juries has vowed to press ahead with its mass action scheduled for Saturday, September 6, 2025, in Parliament Square. According to statements from the group and coverage by The Guardian, more than 1,000 people have pledged to hold placards reading “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”—double the number arrested in a single day during a previous protest on August 9, when more than 522 people were detained for displaying similar signs. That day, as Novara Media reported, marked the highest number of arrests under terrorism legislation in a single day throughout the year, though many demonstrators ultimately walked away without charges, highlighting the logistical challenges facing the police.
DoJ’s spokesperson condemned the arrests in unequivocal terms, stating, “This is scandalous. Locking up our key spokespeople just hours before they were due to hold a press conference announcing more peaceful ‘Lift the Ban’ protests constitutes an unprecedented assault on free speech in our country. This level of political repression is not what we expect in a democracy—it’s the kind of tactic typically associated with authoritarian regimes around the world.” The group further described the crackdown as “dystopian” and insisted, “The mass defiance of the unjust ban on Palestine Action is unstoppable.”
The police, for their part, maintain that their actions are rooted in the law. Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan, head of operations for the Counter Terrorism Command, told BBC News: “These arrests have been made as part of an ongoing investigation into people we suspect have been involved in encouraging support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. We know there is a great strength of feeling towards the situation in Palestine and thousands have been able and continue to be able to express their views through protest and demonstrations, without breaking counter terrorism laws. But Palestine Action is clearly proscribed as a terrorist group, and those showing support for this particular group, or encouraging others to do so can expect to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted. There are serious consequences for those who are found guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act, so I would urge anyone considering showing public support towards this proscribed group to reconsider.”
The ban on Palestine Action was imposed following a string of disruptive protests, most notably the paint attack at RAF Brize Norton. Membership or support for the group now carries a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison. The government, led by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, has staunchly defended the proscription, arguing that Palestine Action is “more than a regular protest group known for occasional stunts.” The Home Office has also responded to media inquiries, including a letter from Novara Media seeking clarification on how the ban would affect journalistic coverage, but left most questions unanswered.
Legal challenges to the ban are ongoing. Last month, Palestine Action won permission to challenge the government’s decision in the High Court, with a full hearing scheduled for November. The group and its supporters argue that the ban constitutes a breach of free speech and the right to legitimate protest, but a judge has refused to temporarily lift the proscription pending the review. In the meantime, enforcement has sometimes appeared inconsistent: while some individuals have been arrested for displaying Palestine Action posters in public, others have avoided charges for displaying similar materials in private spaces.
Over the summer, the scale of police enforcement has been striking. More than 700 people have been arrested and 114 charged for alleged support of the proscribed group, according to figures reported by the BBC. Yet, as the number of protesters willing to risk arrest grows, the authorities face mounting difficulties in maintaining the ban’s effectiveness.
The arrests have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Kerry Moscogiuri, director of campaigns and communications at Amnesty International UK, called the situation “incredibly concerning” and demanded the immediate release of those detained. “The mass peaceful demonstrations they have organised over recent weeks are protected by international human rights law—and to think they run the risk of being imprisoned for up to 14 years is a terrifying example of the UK authorities’ willingness to use authoritarian practices to silence dissent,” she said.
As the debate rages, the stakes are high for both sides. For the government and police, the challenge is to balance national security concerns with the fundamental rights of citizens to protest and express dissent. For campaigners and their supporters, the fight is about defending those very rights in the face of what they see as an increasingly repressive legal environment. With another mass protest looming and a High Court showdown on the horizon, the question of where the line should be drawn between security and liberty in the UK remains as urgent—and contested—as ever.
