Three Individuals Charged for Supporting Proscribed Group Palestine Action

Three individuals have been charged with supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action following their arrest at a protest in Westminster on July 5. The Metropolitan Police identified the accused as Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex; Judit Murray, 71, of Surrey; and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney. They are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 16.

The charges come ahead of a planned protest in support of Palestine Action, set to take place on Saturday in London's Parliament Square. Organizers anticipate more than 500 participants. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, stated, "We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day. I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions."

Palestine Action was designated a terrorist organization under the Terrorism Act 2000 following an incident in June where activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and sprayed two Voyager planes with red paint, causing approximately £7 million in damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the proscription, describing the group's actions as "disgraceful" and citing a "long history of unacceptable criminal damage."

The High Court has granted Palestine Action permission to challenge its proscription. Justice Martin Chamberlain ruled that the group's claims regarding freedom of expression and protest rights are "reasonably arguable," allowing a judicial review to proceed in the autumn.

The proscription has faced criticism from various organizations. Amnesty International labeled the move as "unprecedented legal overreach," while United Nations experts expressed concern that labeling property damage as terrorism could have a "chilling effect" on political protest and advocacy.

Since the proscription took effect on July 5, multiple arrests have been made at demonstrations supporting Palestine Action. On the day the ban was enforced, 29 individuals were arrested in London for expressing support for the group. Subsequent protests have also resulted in arrests, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding the designation and its implications for freedom of expression and assembly.