Government advisor on terrorism backs proscription of Palestine Action

He added: "Far from being an example of heavy-handed authoritarianism, it could be said that there is greater reason to fear the clunking fist of Palestine Action when it chooses to label a business or person ‘complicit’ and therefore a suitable target for action, than the use of terrorism legislation in this way.”

When it came to the arrests of people for holding placards supporting Palestine Action, he cited the example of Northern Ireland  where there have long been calls for police to act on flags and signs sympathising with terrorist groups: 

“As it happens, the government is now bringing forward legislation, on my recommendation, to make it easier for police to remove these symbols. The legal provision in question is section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which makes it an offence for someone to display an article ‘in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation’.

“A person who commits this offence faces a summary penalty, usually a fine or conditional discharge, and is not in law considered a terrorist (see section 40). This is separate from the more serious offence of inviting support, which requires the prosecution to prove what lawyers call a mental element such as intent.” 

 The notion that Palestine Action's supporters should be given special treatment  compared to other terrorist groups "whether because of the nature of its cause, or, worse, the venerable appearance of some supporters" could lead to a change in law to  “make it an offence to fund Palestine Action, but not an offence to express support for it. This is at the very least a recipe for confusion.”

He wrote: "This does not mean calls to allow displays in support of Palestine Action are necessarily wrong but they are unprecedented because if the law were changed it would leave Islamic State supporters free to hoist their black flags on UK high streets.

"This might please a certain school of free speech absolutism but is not a serious proposition."

On August 15 the Liberal Democrats wrote to Hall calling on him to review the legislation  after more than  500 protesters were arrested for expressing support for Palestine Action.

At least 700 people have been arrested for supporting Palestine Action since its proscription.

Hall wrote: “I remain unconvinced the proscription of Palestine Action prevents or chills the expression of support for Palestine. Pro-Gaza marches organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign continue to take place.

"The motives of those who say “I support Palestine Action” are not always easy to discern. Rather than saying “I support Palestine” or “I oppose the proscription of Palestine Action”, a small number of demonstrators have gone out of their way to invite arrest. I am not sure that this makes the law ridiculous or heavy-handed.

“Shorn of the power to arrest and prosecute those who display support in public, the police’s role in preventing the growth and operation of Palestine Action would be that much harder.”