(Commonwealth_Europe) Arrests for terrorism-related offences have surged dramatically following the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action, with official figures showing a 660% increase compared with last year. In the year up to the end of September 2025, 1,886 people were arrested under UK terrorism legislation, a sharp rise from the 248 arrests recorded across the whole of the previous year.
The data reveal that the vast majority of these arrests—1,630 people (86%)—were linked to support for Palestine Action, which was formally proscribed on 5 July. The ban made membership of, or public support for, the group a criminal offence, carrying a possible prison sentence of up to 14 years. Individuals can also face a six-month custodial sentence simply for wearing clothing or holding signs bearing the group’s name under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The impact of the ban is most clearly seen in the most recent reporting period. Between July and September 2025, there were 1,706 terrorism-related arrests, compared with just 63 arrests between April and June, an increase of more than 2,600%, according to Home Office data. Of those detained in the latter quarter, 1,630 were arrested specifically for supporting Palestine Action.
Outside of Palestine Action-related cases, terrorism arrests rose only marginally. The remaining 256 arrests across the year represented a 3% increase compared with the previous year, suggesting the overall spike was overwhelmingly driven by the proscription decision.
The figures also point to a striking change in the demographics of those arrested. Individuals detained in connection with Palestine Action were 4.4 times more likely to be female, with an average age of 57, compared with an average age of 30 for other terrorism-related arrests. There was also a record number of arrests involving children, with 53 people aged 17 or under taken into custody, according to youth justice and policing statistics. Only one of these cases was linked to Palestine Action, though minors still accounted for roughly one in five of non–Palestine Action arrests.
Despite the scale of enforcement, relatively few arrests have resulted in charges. Only 17% of all arrests led to formal charges, compared with 47% in the previous year, based on Crown Prosecution Service outcomes. Among Palestine Action-related cases, 243 charges were brought.
The figures do not include the final three months of the year, during which protests against the ban intensified. Nearly 500 people aged between 18 and 89 were arrested at a central London demonstration held just two days after the Manchester synagogue terror attack, an incident that heightened public tensions and scrutiny around the right to protest.
Opposition to the ban has been led by Defend Our Juries, which organised demonstrations challenging the decision. The group criticised the decision taken by the then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, arguing that the ban has diverted counter-terrorism resources away from genuine threats.
They described scenes of elderly protesters—including retired vicars, former magistrates, and military officers—being carried into police vans as “deeply troubling” and damaging to public trust in policing, a concern echoed by civil liberties organisations.
“These people are clearly not terrorists in the widely accepted meaning of the word,” a spokesperson said. “What we are seeing is the criminalisation of conscience and dissent. We look forward to the day when this wrongheaded ban is overturned.”
Meanwhile, Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, is pursuing legal action against the Home Office, challenging the legality of the proscription. The case could have far-reaching implications for public protest, policing, and the use of terrorism legislation in the UK.
