Official figures have revealed a staggering 660% year-on-year surge in terrorism-related arrests across the United Kingdom, a spike overwhelmingly attributed to the government's ban on the pro-Palestine protest group, Palestine Action.
Unprecedented Surge in Detentions
Statistics covering the period up to September 2025 show that a total of 1,886 individuals were arrested for terror offences. Of these, a massive 1,630 arrests – equating to 86 per cent of the total – were connected to activities supporting Palestine Action. This marks a dramatic increase from the 248 terrorism arrests recorded in the previous year.
The most dramatic escalation followed the group's official proscription in July. After the ban came into effect, arrests linked to Palestine Action rocketed by an astonishing 2,608 per cent. The profile of those detained under these new powers also differs significantly from typical terror suspects. They are considerably older, with an average age of 57, and are 4.4 times more likely to be female.
Legal Challenge and Government Justification
Palestine Action, known for its campaigns of non-violent civil disobedience targeting companies it claims supply equipment to Israel, is legally contesting its proscribed status. Co-founder Huda Ammori is challenging the ban in the High Court, arguing that outlawing a non-violent civil disobedience organisation in this way is "novel and unprecedented".
The government defends its decision, stating that the Home Secretary acted on advice from security experts who determined that certain actions undertaken by the group qualified as terrorist acts. This stance persists despite reported internal views from the Foreign Office, which has apparently regarded the group's international activity as a form of activism.
Broader Implications for Protest and Security
This seismic shift in arrest data places a sharp focus on the evolving definition of terrorism and the boundaries of legitimate protest in the UK. The figures suggest that the application of terror legislation to a large-scale protest movement can instantly and drastically alter the national security landscape in statistical terms.
The case continues to develop, with the outcome of the High Court challenge likely to set a significant precedent for how the state categorises and responds to organised civil disobedience campaigns in the future.
