Armed police threatened Laura Murton with arrest for holding a Palestinian flag and signs that said Free Gaza and Israel is committing genocide. Officers argued that her demonstration showed support for Palestine Action, which had been banned. Murton stated that her signs did not mention Palestine Action and denied supporting any proscribed organisations. The officer claimed that phrases like Free Gaza could imply support for the banned group. Officers warned her of arrest unless she provided personal details, which she reluctantly did, asserting that the situation felt authoritarian.
One officer told her: Mentioning freedom of Gaza, Israel, genocide, all of that all come under proscribed groups, which are terror groups that have been dictated by the government. He went on to say that the phrase Free Gaza is supportive of Palestine Action, adding it was an offence to express an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation, namely Palestine Action is an offence under section 12(1A) of the Terrorism Act.
Murton said: I don't see how anything I was wearing, how anything I was displaying, anything I was saying, could be deemed as supportive of the proscribed group. It's terrifying, I was standing there thinking, this is the most authority, authoritarian, dystopian experience I've had in this country, being told that I'm committing terrorist offences by two guys with firearms.
The officers said they would arrest Murton unless she provided her name and address, which she reluctantly agreed to do. I ended up giving my details, and I really resent the fact I had to do that because I don't think that was lawful at all.
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