What's happened
Jonathan Hall has warned that Britain’s terrorism laws risk policing protests as terrorism when property damage occurs, urging narrower definitions to protect free expression. The Palestine Action ban remains in force while appeals progress, with lawmakers under pressure to define ‘serious damage’ more clearly.
What's behind the headline?
Key implications
- The definition of ‘serious damage to property’ is blurred, potentially pulling non-violent protests into terrorism policing.
- Lawmakers are urged to narrow the test, possibly by tying it to risk to life or national security, or by excluding non-violent protest.
- The ban on Palestine Action and other group prohibitions are shaping how authorities apply counterterrorism powers online and offline.
What readers should watch
- How the High Court appeal resolves on free-speech grounds and what it means for future bans.
- Whether the government adopts tighter statutory language or relies on policing and trespass/criminal damage charges as alternatives.
- The balance between protest rights and security obligations in the coming year.
How we got here
Hall’s annual report has examined the use of the Terrorism Act 2000 during 2024, highlighting that the Palestine Action ban has shown real uncertainty about whether serious damage to property alone qualifies as terrorism. The government is appealing a High Court ruling that the ban was unlawful on free-speech grounds. Palestine Action has been active since 2020, focusing on protest at weapons-related sites; incidents in 2024–25 include raids on Elbit facilities and a Brize Norton protest. The report notes increased use of counterterrorism laws to police online content and rhetoric.
Our analysis
The Times of Israel reports that Jonathan Hall has warned the Terrorism Act could blur lines between protest and terrorism, noting the Palestine Action ban’s broader implications for free speech. Al Jazeera mirrors this assessment and adds context about United Nations concerns and ongoing arrests since the ban. Reuters provides parallel coverage, highlighting the call to narrow the ‘serious damage to property’ threshold and citing Volker Turk’s critique of using counterterrorism laws to curb protest. All emphasize the same core issue: defining terrorism in a way that preserves rights while addressing security concerns.
Go deeper
- Do you think the government will push for a narrower statutory test or rely on existing penalties for criminal damage and trespass?
- How might this affect future protests near military or defense facilities?
- What are the prospects of the Palestine Action appeal changing the current legal framework?
More on these topics
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Shabana Mahmood - Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom
Shabana Mahmood is a British Labour Party politician and barrister serving as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham, Ladywood since 2010. She has served in the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer as the Labour Party National Campaign Coordinator since 2021.
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Palestine Action - Europe-based pro-Palestinian direct action group
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian protest network that uses direct action tactics to shut down and disrupt multinational arms dealers. In particular, the group targets UK-based operations that provide weapons used in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
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Hizb ut-Tahrir - Political party
Hizb ut-Tahrir (Arabic: حزب التحرير, romanized: Ḥizb at-Taḥrīr, lit. 'Party of Liberation'; HT) is an international pan-Islamist and fundamentalist political organization whose stated aim is the re-establishment of the Islamic caliphat