News -
Statement ahead of protest in support of Palestine Action
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has issued the following statement ahead of a planned protest in support of Palestine Action, due to take place in Westminster on Monday, 23 June.
“I’m sure many people will be as shocked and frustrated as I am to see a protest taking place tomorrow in support of Palestine Action.
“This is an organised extremist criminal group, whose proscription as terrorists is being actively considered. Members are alleged to have caused millions of pounds of criminal damage, assaulted a police officer with a sledgehammer and last week claimed responsibility for breaking into an airbase and damaging aircraft. Multiple members of the group are awaiting trial accused of serious offences.
“The right to protest is essential and we will always defend it, but actions in support of such a group go beyond what most would see as legitimate protest. Thousands of people attend protests of a different character every week without clashing with the law or with the police. The criminal charges faced by Palestine Action members, in contrast, represent a form of extremism that I believe the overwhelming majority of the public rejects.
“We have laid out to Government the operational basis on which to consider proscribing this group. If that happens we will be determined to target those who continue to act in its name and those who show support for it.
“Until then we have no power in law to prevent tomorrow’s protest taking place. We do, however, have the power to impose conditions on it to prevent disorder, damage, and serious disruption to the community, including to Parliament, to elected representatives moving around Westminster and to ordinary Londoners.
“Breaches of the law will be dealt with robustly.”
Details of conditions
Public Order Act conditions have been imposed on the protest.
It must not begin before midday and must end by 3pm.
It cannot take place within the exclusion zone shown in blue on the map below.
The formal wording of the conditions, which are imposed under Section 14(3) of the Public Order Act 1986 to prevent serious public disorder, serious damage to property and serious disruption to the life of the community, is set out below:
1. Any person participating in the "We are All Palestine Action”, “Palestine Action Emergency Mobilisation” assembly on Monday 23rd June 2025 must not assemble in the shaded area on the attached map (above).
2. The "We are All Palestine Action”, “Palestine Action Emergency Mobilisation” assembly on Monday 23rd June 2025 must not commence before 12:00 hours on Monday 23rd June 2025.
3. The "We are All Palestine Action”, “Palestine Action Emergency Mobilisation” assembly on Monday 23rd June 2025 must conclude by 15:00 hours on Monday 23rd June 2025.