The Metropolitan Police have ruled no further action will be taken against the wife of the UK’s national security advisor Jonathan Powell, after she appeared to show support for proscribed group Palestine Action.
Sarah Helm, who is married to Powell, posted on X on Thursday: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.” Her post was in reference to news that anti-Israel Irish author Sally Rooney would not be able to sell her books in the UK over her support for the group.
Palestine Action's proscription, which began on July 5, 2025, made membership or encouragement of support of the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
In response to Helm’s post last week, a police spokesperson said it was “being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required”.
In an update on Saturday, a spokesperson announced that specialist officers had looked at the post and decided it “did not meet the criminal threshold” and “no further police action will be taken”.
Prior to the no further action update, a spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said of Helm’s post: “This is gobsmacking… [and] raises extremely serious questions for Jonathan Powell and the government.
“Spouses are entitled to independent views, but plainly, Powell, who leads on our country’s national security and has been intricately involved in our Middle East diplomacy, must publicly denounce this rhetoric if he is to continue in post.”
A government spokesperson said: “These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.”
Figures have shown a continued surge in terror arrests after the ban on supporting Palestine Action was introduced.
Police have made mass arrests at multiple demonstrations, where protesters have typically held up placards, worn T-shirts, and donned badges declaring “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, leading to their arrests under anti-terrorism legislation.
There were 3,867 arrests for suspected terrorist activity in the year to June, of which 3,630 (94 per cent) were linked to supporting the group.
In the previous 12-month period, before the ban came into force, 234 terror arrests were made.
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