Met police say they will stop arresting people for supporting Palestine Action after high court ruling – live

Police acknowledge ‘unusual circumstances’ around the ruling and say they will focus on gathering evidence The high court upheld two grounds of challenge, including that the ban was a disproportionate interference with the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.The president of the king’s bench division, Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mr Justice Swift and Mrs Justice Steyn, said that “Palestine Action is an organisation that promotes its political cause through criminality and encouragement of criminality”, but that proscription was still “disproportionate”.I am disappointed by the court’s decision and disagree with the notion that banning this terrorist organisation is disproportionate.“The proscription of Palestine Action followed a rigorous and evidence-based decision-making process, endorsed by parliament. The proscription does not prevent peaceful protest in support of the Palestinian cause, another point on which the court agrees. Continue reading…