Netpol

This is 100% world-class bullshit

Can't fault the clarity of Labour's message on protest. There are BAD protesters who must be punished (Irish musicians, anti-genocide vicars) and there are GOOD protesters whose views deserve respect (masked thugs with petrol bombs trying to start a pogrom)

Lord Dannatt urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at request of US firm Police officer was concerned ex-army chief, a Teledyne adviser, sought to have ‘input’ into factory attack investigation

Lord Dannatt lobbied ministers to crack down on Palestine Action on behalf of a US defence company, Teledyne, that employs him as an adviser. The evidence is growing: the only "consultation" the government listened to on banning the group was the defence industry www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Met arrested woman after Facebook posts about ex-partner – a serving officer London force sent three officers at 4.45am, who put her in the back of a van and seized her phone and computer

There's so much in this deeply unpleasant story, about the brittle ego of a serving Metropolitan Police officer, the abject abuse of police power and the pointlessness of formal complaints.

Tl;dr - never date a cop www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

REVEALED: DSEI, the UK's largest arms fair, have quietly removed Israel from the list of 'International Pavilions' on its website.

Israel was listed as exhibiting in April but was removed in July.

A government that's usually so willing to condemn intimidation and violence at the drop of a hat – especially if a police officer is "pushed" – but never even considers speaking out about the plight of traumatised people who are besieged in a hotel.

One of the barristers, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, did mention this exact point

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Hong Kong democracy campaigner accuses UK police of asking her to ‘self-censor’ Exclusive: Thames Valley police requested Carmen Lau ‘avoid public gatherings’ after neighbours received bounty letters

More pressure to self-censor: Thames Valley Police asked Hong Kong democracy campaigner Carmen Lau to agree to "avoid public gatherings" in a "memorandum of understanding" after neighbours received letters offering a £100K bounty for information on her movements www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Image of two armed police officers carrying Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns on the streets of London

Targeted under counterterror powers? Read our guide to find out what your rights are netpol.org/2025/07/31/w...

Met police to more than double use of live facial recognition Technology will now be used up to 10 times a week across five days, up from four times a week across two days

As Britain's surveillance society becomes permanent, the Metropolitan Police expands its unregulated use of live facial recognition technology and increases the number of officers using it for protest surveillance, "particularly related to Israel and Palestine" www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Minister dismisses peers’ claims that UK recognition of Palestine may break international law Gareth Thomas says move is ‘political judgment’ after challenge from 40 members of House of Lords

Among the peers who signed the letter are Lord Pannick, a patron of the genocide deniers UK Lawyers for Israel; Baron Mendelsohn, a former chair of Labour Friends of Israel; and Lord Walney, a prominent lobbyist for Israel. There's a pattern emerging... www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Forcing journalists or artists into a position of constant self-censorship, under the threat of arbitrary arrest and prosecution using sweeping terrorism legislation, is the very definition of an authoritarian state

In advance of its decision, the Home Office failed to properly consult on the ban and so failed to consider, at any point, its potential to criminalise legitimate journalistic and artistic work. Now, it insists such concerns are none of its business. This is scandalous

Yet in the High Court judgment only yesterday, it was recognised that the police making up the rules about what is, or isn't, a crime was "liable to have a chilling effect on those wishing to express legitimate political views and was "an indirect consequence of the proscription order."

Turning to your constituent’s specific questions, for certain terrorism offences and powers, Parliament has provided for additional safeguards for journalism and journalistic material, as well as academic research, recognising the vital role that journalists play in holding the state, and its institutions, to account. However, there is no absolute defence of journalism under CT legislation. Under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is an offence to invite support for, or recklessly express an opinion or belief that is supportive of Palestine Action. It will be a matter for the operationally independent police, Crown Prosecution Service and courts to decide if a crime has been committed. I am unable to comment further on what is and is not an offence, as this is a matter for the police.

The reply from Security Minister Dan Jarvis evaded questions on whether safeguards for freedom of expression had been considered by the Home Office, or if guidance had been issued to ensure that individuals are not unfairly targeted. Instead, Jarvis said this is no longer his department's concern

The Palestine Action ban ended the distribution of the documentary by @rainbow-collective.bsky.social , "To Kill A War Machine". One of the film's exec producers persuaded their MP to ask the Home Office a question: had it considered the broader implications of the ban for journalistic expression?

Post from me in today’s @lrb.co.uk reflecting on the Palestine Action judgment

"The judge cited the case of Laura Murton, who... had been threatened with arrest by armed officers for holding a sign saying “Free Gaza” and a Palestinian flag".

It's very unlikely the two officers responsible will have faced any consequences for their unlawful actions

Palestine Action co-founder wins permission to challenge ban Huda Ammori argued that home secretary’s decision to proscribe group under terrorism laws was ‘abuse of power’

Mr Justice Chamberlain said the proscription order risked "considerable harm to the public interest" because of a potential “chilling effect” on legitimate political speech www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

If you've been following today's hearing, a judicial review will take place in November after a judge found there are strong grounds for the ban on Palestine Action breaching human rights and failing to consult in advance. The government case is weakened–but the group remains banned. Read our advice

Permission to appeal has been refused.

The government lawyers now want to make an application for leave to appeal.

He has decided the judicial review hearing will take place over three days on a date in November after 10th.

He says actions taken by the police since the ban are serious, but not serious enough. Interim relief - a stay of the ban - is refused.

And.... we're back. After the closed hearing, Mr Justice Chamberlain is straight into a decision: claimants needed to show there is a material change of circumstances in the strength of the case.

The court is now going into a brief closed session, finishing at 15.45

Raza Husain KC also argues there was nothing in open disclosure from the Home Secretary that warrants the imminent threat to national security she claimed Palestine Action posed.

She argues this includes the negative impact on editorial decisions by the media; on where the line is drawn on actual support for a proscribed group; and on the ongoing requirements on a confused public to interpret where lines might be crossed when condemning Israeli genocide in Gaza

They argue that the lack of prior consultation on the ban is a failure of due process. Blinne Ni Ghrálaigh KC says the ban will also cause "irreparable harm" to freedom of speech for thousands of people between now and a hearing in November