The Metropolitan Police have made three arrests during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Westminster, marking a significant shift in the policing of protest slogans. Two individuals were detained for shouting chants involving calls for 'intifada', while a third was arrested for obstructing officers.
A Change in Policing Policy
The arrests on Wednesday 17 December 2025 evening outside the Ministry of Justice follow a major announcement from police forces earlier that day. Both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police stated that anyone chanting controversial slogans like 'globalise the intifada' would now face arrest.
This represents a clear change in approach. The decision is understood to be a direct response to recent terror attacks, including the incident at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on October 2 and the Bondi Beach attack.
Details of the Westminster Arrests
Officers moved into a crowd of approximately 100 protesters to make the arrests, leading individuals away to waiting police vans. In an official statement on social media, the Met Police confirmed the details.
"Two people who shouted slogans involving calls for intifada were arrested for racially aggravated public order offences," the force said. "A third person was arrested for obstructing the above arrests."
Implications for Protest and Public Order
The enforcement action signals a new, stricter stance on language deemed to incite violence or racial hatred at public gatherings. The move is likely to spark debate around the boundaries of free speech, protest rights, and public safety.
Authorities have emphasised that the policy is a necessary measure to maintain community cohesion and prevent the glorification of violence in the wake of recent tragedies. The impact of this hardened line on future demonstrations across the UK remains to be seen.
