Militant protesters were accused of a ‘colossal’ waste of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money after more than 360 deliberately forced police to arrest them by brandishing signs supporting the outlawed group Palestine Action.
During a day of chaos and farce, Left-wing activists swamped Parliament Square in London today in support of the organisation, which was proscribed by the Government last month as a terrorist group.
Hundreds held placards declaring ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’ in deliberate acts of law-breaking designed to overwhelm police resources and the courts.
By 6pm police had arrested 365 people for supporting a proscribed organisation and seven others, including five for assaulting police officers.
More than 850 officers were deployed on the huge operation, including 120 drafted in to bolster the Met from Wales, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
Officers endured a torrent of abuse as they made arrests, with demonstrators screaming ‘shame on you’, ‘terrorists’ and ‘fascist scum’. Violent scuffles broke out as officers attempted to lead those arrested away. The Met said that none of its officers was seriously injured.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp estimated that the police operation and subsequent legal costs to prosecute those arrested, including court time and legal aid, could cost taxpayers up to £3 million.
The cost comes on top of the more than £53 million that the Met has already spent policing pro-Palestine protests in central London since the October 7 attacks against Israel in 2023.
Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Mr Philp said: ‘When you take into account the policing costs today and how much lengthy prosecutions and court processes will cost, the final bill for today’s idiotic stunt could be as much as £3 million. This is money that could have been spent catching drug dealers, gang members, phone thieves and shoplifters.
‘Those supporting a banned organisation should feel the full force of the law. Palestine Action is a violent group that seeks to impose its views on others through force. They smash up property, vandalise RAF planes and have even attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer.
‘Those illegally supporting Palestine Action are supporting political violence.’
To prevent London’s police cells from being overwhelmed, the Met established a so-called ‘prisoner- processing point’ in nearby King Charles Street.
Under three gazebos, arrested activists were asked for their names and addresses and had their fingerprints taken. They were then bailed and told to return to a police station at a future date.
Some, however, immediately returned to the protest on Parliament Square and were re-arrested for breaching their bail conditions.
Richard Roques, 69, from London, was among the first to be arrested on the edge of Parliament Square. He had brought a placard with the words ‘I support’ written on it. At 1pm he added the words ‘Palestine Action’, prompting his arrest minutes later.
At 1.53pm he was arrested for a second time for returning to the protest and allegedly breaching his bail conditions.
Moazzam Beg, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was also among those arrested yesterday afternoon. He had been detained by US authorities between 2002 and 2005 before his release without charge.
The protest began at 1pm today when hundreds of activists sat down and silently held the illegal placards.
Defend Our Juries, which organised yesterday’s protest, claimed that between 600 and 700 protested by holding the signs.
The Met, however, said that, while between 500 and 600 people were in Parliament Square ‘many were onlookers, media or people not holding placards’.
First to be arrested was William Hancock from Kingston upon Thames. Speaking to the MoS, he said: ‘I had a sign that said I support Palestine Action.’
He was followed by Ian Mursell, 73, from Battersea, whose arrest was witnessed by his son Phillip. Designer Theresa Jordan, 45, said she would refuse to co-operate with police as she was led away.
At 2.17pm seven officers arrested a blind man in a wheelchair who told the MoS his name was ‘Mike’. Dozens of protesters followed the officers chanting ‘no justice, no peace, no fascist police’.
One woman screamed ‘you are f****** disgusting, you are fascist scum’ at the officers.
Some activists said they had previously been arrested while demonstrating for eco-militant groups such as Just Stop Oil.
There were also ugly scenes on Whitehall as those arrested were led – and in some cases carried by their arms and legs – to the temporary processing centre, with a hostile crowd pushing and shoving officers.
A middle-aged man was pushed to the ground by officers as he fought against them. Another march, organised by separate group the Palestine Coalition, assembled on Whitehall. The Met said one person had been arrested.
Legislation to proscribe Palestine Action made it a criminal offence to show support for the organisation, carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said tonight: ‘Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.’
A Met spokesman said: ‘Anyone who came to Parliament Square to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested.’
