Met Police Prepared for Mass Arrests as Palestine Action Protest Approaches

Published: 06 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

The Metropolitan Police have stated they have “no choice” but to arrest supporters of the banned group Palestine Action during an upcoming weekend of protests in London, with policing costs expected to exceed £10 million this month. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan emphasized that the force is fully resourced and prepared to process mass arrests if necessary, following recent demonstrations in which more than 500 people were detained.

Up to 1,000 people are expected to participate in a peaceful rally at Parliament Square on Saturday, carrying signs declaring support for Palestine Action and condemning genocide. Adelekan warned that anyone showing support for the group, an offence under the Terrorism Act, would face arrest, stressing that the Metropolitan Police have the custody capacity and contingency arrangements to manage large numbers of detainees, including the use of cells outside London if required.

Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan, head of operations for the Met’s counterterrorism command, reiterated the force’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those suspected of offences under the Terrorism Act. She highlighted that individuals arrested in prior protests are now confronting the possibility of facing a terror conviction.

Protest organisers, including Defend Our Juries, have urged the Met not to arrest peaceful demonstrators, pointing to precedents in cities such as Edinburgh, Totnes, Derry, and Kendal where police chose not to detain participants holding signs. They described the repeated arrests in London as a “chore” that undermines public confidence in law enforcement and called for a more measured approach.

Palestine Action was officially banned as a terror organisation in July after claiming responsibility for damage to two Voyager planes at RAF Brize Norton in June. The ban makes public support for the group a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Meanwhile, the Home Office plans to appeal a High Court ruling allowing co-founder Huda Ammori to challenge the government’s proscription of the organisation.

The upcoming protests coincide with what the Met has described as a “particularly busy” summer of demonstrations, fueled by tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict, the proscription of Palestine Action, and debates over housing asylum seekers in hotels. Other scheduled demonstrations include a Palestine Coalition march at midday in central London and a National March Against Antisemitism on Sunday.

In the last three months alone, the Metropolitan Police have deployed 62,829 officer shifts to manage protests, with an additional 19,461 shifts anticipated in September. Adelekan described the estimated £10 million expenditure on policing these events as a necessary allocation to ensure public safety and maintain order during the demonstrations.