Ex-police boss slams Govt over Palestine Action

A retired police chief and former Welsh language campaigner has slammed the authorities for their approach to banned group Palestine Action. Arfon Jones drew parallels with historic Welsh language campaigns in which scores of activists were arrested for nonviolent direct action.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE

Mr Jones (pictured), from Wrexham, said he was among those who, in the 1970s, campaigned for Welsh language rights as members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society). “Some were imprisoned for their activities,” he said. “None, however, were stigmatised by the British state as terrorists.”

On July 5, the UK Government proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist group after members of the network damaged RAF aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. Under the Terrorism Act of 2000, it made group membership a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Since then, police have arrested people for showing support to Palestine Action. Last Saturday, 474 people were arrested during a ‘Lift the Ban’ sit-in at Parliament Square.