Half of Palestine Action arrests were over-60s

Half of the people arrested during the protest in relation to Palestine Action in London on Saturday were aged 60 or above, according to police figures.

- Ben Quinn

A total of 532 people were arrested at the largest demonstration relating to the group since it was proscribed last month. All but 10 were under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act for displaying supportive placards or signs.

An age breakdown released by the Metropolitan police yesterday revealed that nearly 100 of those detained were in their 70s and 15 were in their 80s. Of the 519 arrested people with confirmed dates of birth, 49.9% were 60 or older.

Hundreds attended the event in Parliament Square, which was organised by Defend Our Juries. The group asked participants to hold up signs saying: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." Among those arrested was Sir Jonathon Porritt, 75, a former government adviser who said he had long been concerned about the erosion of civil liberties under successive governments. He was arrested under Section 13 and bailed until 23 October

He described the proscription of Palestine Action as "a measure of the government's desperation" and "entirely inappropriate".

"I thought this was overreach by the home secretary, trying to eliminate the voices of those who are deeply concerned about what is happening in Gaza," he said.

"This was an absolutely clear case of a government using its powers to crush dissenting voices when it is the government itself that is most reprehensible for what continues to be an absolute horror story in 6 → the world.