The Metropolitan Police have made numerous arrests of individuals associated with Palestine Action, particularly following the group's proscription as a terrorist organization by the UK government in July 2025. This designation made membership in, or expressing support for, Palestine Action a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The ban came after Palestine Action claimed responsibility for incidents, including significant damage to two Voyager aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on June 20, which police estimated caused around £7 million in damages. Palestine Action, founded in 2020, states its goal is to end global participation in what it calls Israel's "genocidal and apartheid regime" by disrupting the UK arms industry, specifically targeting facilities linked to Israel's arms industry and British military infrastructure.
Following the proscription, a series of arrests have been made during protests. On July 5, 2025, over 20 people were arrested in central London, specifically Parliament Square, on suspicion of offenses under the Terrorism Act 2000 for showing support for the proscribed group. By July 19, 2025, 55 people had been arrested under anti-terrorism laws at a demonstration in support of the group. A large protest on September 7, 2025, saw nearly 900 arrests at Parliament Square, with 857 individuals arrested under the Terrorism Act for supporting a proscribed group, and others for offenses like assaulting police officers. Subsequently, by November 2025, a further 120 people were charged, bringing the total number of charges in London to 254 since July.
Those charged face potential consequences under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, including up to six months' imprisonment, a permanent record of the conviction on their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, which could affect employment and university admissions, and potential bars to entry into various countries, including the US, Australia, Japan, and EU nations from 2026. Civil liberties groups have criticized the ban, arguing it conflates protest with terrorism.