More than a month after the UK government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, the country finds itself embroiled in a fierce debate about the boundaries of free speech, the role of police in democratic protest, and the proportionality of anti-terror laws. The controversy reached a boiling point last weekend, when over 500 people—many of them elderly—were arrested in London under terrorism legislation for their involvement in pro-Palestine demonstrations. The fallout has sent ripples through Scotland, where political leaders and civil liberties advocates are pressing authorities to reconsider their approach.
According to The National, Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton wrote a pointed letter on August 16, 2025, to Jo Farrell, Chief Constable of Police Scotland. In it, he challenged the force’s strategy for policing pro-Palestine protests and asked how officers intend to balance “free speech, policing by consent and proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act.” His intervention follows a dramatic weekend in London, where, as BBC News reported, more than 500 arrests were made at Parliament Square, with the average age of those detained being 54—and at least 112 of them over 70.
“Proscription must be applied carefully and proportionately, or we risk undermining public trust and civil liberties,” Cole-Hamilton wrote, as cited by The National. “The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a liberal democracy. It has clearly been incredibly uncomfortable for police officers to be asked to arrest peaceful demonstrators. This sets a dangerous precedent and risks a chilling impact on free speech and legitimate protest.” He added, “It cannot be right that elderly members of groups like Palestine Action are placed in the same legal category as ISIS.”
The arrests in London are part of a wider crackdown that has swept across the UK since Home Secretary Yvette Cooper banned Palestine Action on July 5, 2025. The ban followed incidents of criminal damage to military planes at RAF Brize Norton and intelligence suggesting the group had committed serious attacks and was planning more. As BBC News detailed, the government now treats membership in or support for Palestine Action as a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Norfolk Police echoed this hard line last Saturday, when 13 people were arrested in Norwich city centre for holding placards supporting Palestine Action outside City Hall. The protest, which began at 12:30 BST and ended by 14:00 BST, saw five individuals taken to Wymondham police station for questioning and eight others de-arrested after providing their details. A 14th protester had a sign seized by officers. Superintendent Wes Hornigold told BBC News, “We will always work to facilitate peaceful protest and protect the democratic right to assembly. However, the actions of this group were unlawful. Our officers’ role is to prevent disorder, damage and disruption in the local community and they will use their powers to do this. Any breaches of the law will be dealt with.”
These developments have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organisations. Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, described the mass arrests as “deeply concerning.” The group argues that the government’s actions risk stifling legitimate protest and infringing upon fundamental rights. This argument gained further traction last month when the High Court ruled that Palestine Action could challenge its proscription, with lawyers for co-founder Huda Ammori contending that the ban amounts to a gag on free speech.
The debate is not confined to England. In Scotland, the issue has become increasingly urgent after three men were arrested in Edinburgh in July for wearing t-shirts or holding signs stating “Genocide in Palestine, time to take action” during a peaceful protest. Earlier this month, activist Sean Clerkin was banned from Glasgow city centre for displaying a similar sign, though the ban was later revoked. These incidents have raised concerns among Scottish politicians and civil liberties advocates about the reach and impact of the Terrorism Act 2000 north of the border.
In his letter to Chief Constable Farrell, Cole-Hamilton questioned how Police Scotland would handle protests organised by those “who have taken a different view from the one reached by the Home Secretary” regarding the proscription. He argued, “Anti-terror legislation should be directed towards those who are known or believed to be terrorists. It can only hinder the fight against terror if the 2000 Act is seen to be aimed at people whose intention is to exercise their constitutional rights to protest. In my view these powers should be reserved for tackling those who endanger the UK’s defence and security, rather than for heavy-handedly removing protesting pensioners from public spaces.”
Police Scotland, for its part, has defended its approach. A spokesperson told The National, “It is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 to be a member of a proscribed organisation or to invite or express support for them. This includes wearing clothing or carrying any item in public in such a way as to arouse suspicion that they are a member of, or a supporter of a proscribed organisation. We are working closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Where police consider there is a sufficiency of evidence, they submit reports to the Procurator Fiscal. The fiscal will then consider whether there is enough evidence in law and decides what action, if any, to take in the public interest.”
Behind the scenes, the issue has become even more fraught. A leaked document from the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, published by The National, has fueled claims by former diplomat Craig Murray that Home Secretary Cooper misrepresented her rationale for proscribing Palestine Action. Additionally, The Ferret revealed that arms firms lobbied both the UK and Scottish governments to ban the group, raising questions about the influence of private interests on public policy.
The Metropolitan Police has made it clear that the crackdown is far from over. The force announced that a further 60 people would be prosecuted for supporting Palestine Action, adding to the more than 700 individuals arrested since the ban took effect. Arrangements have been put in place “that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary,” the Met said, according to BBC News.
As the legal and political battles continue, the UK finds itself at a crossroads. The government insists that the ban on Palestine Action is necessary to protect national security and prevent further attacks, while critics warn that the sweeping use of anti-terror laws against peaceful protesters risks eroding the very freedoms those laws are meant to defend. The coming months will likely see the courts, police, and politicians grapple with the question of where to draw the line between security and liberty—a debate that shows no sign of fading soon.
