Met Police decides no further action against national security adviser’s wife over Palestine Action post

The Metropolitan Police announced that it will not pursue further action against Sarah Helm after she posted a comment referencing the proscribed group Palestine Action on the social-media platform X. Helm, who is married to the United Kingdom’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell, wrote, "God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action," in response to a discussion about author Sally Rooney.

Police said the post was reviewed by specialist officers and determined not to meet the criminal threshold. Earlier, the force had indicated the post was under assessment to decide whether a formal investigation was required.

Palestine Action was designated a terrorist organisation in July 2025, making support of the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Rooney, whose novels are being withdrawn from UK booksellers after she announced plans to donate royalties to the group, described its aim as ending global participation in "Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime."