Merseyside Police has confirmed that 82 people were arrested in Liverpool on Sunday during a protest outside the Labour Party Conference. The force said it dealt with a total of 161 people following a 'Defend Our Juries' demonstration outside the city's Arena and Convention Centre, where the Labour Party is holding its annual conference.
Arrests over support for proscribed organisation
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "The protesters assembled near The Wheel of Liverpool at 12.30pm with some of the people in attendance displaying material in support of Palestine Action, who are a proscribed terrorism organisation."
"As a result, officers arrested 82 people on suspicion of wearing/carrying an article supporting a proscribed organisation. They were taken into police custody and have now been released on bail." A further 79 people were reported for summons, the force said.
Police statement on protest numbers
The police statement continued: "The estimated number of people who attended the protest was approximately 180 people however not everyone present was committing a criminal offence."
"Merseyside Police respects everyone’s rights to protest lawfully, while also aiming to keep the peace and ensure the public are safe. The force makes detailed and coordinated plans ahead of such events to ensure it can apply this consistently, fairly and proportionately."
Criticism and reaction
Superintendent Peter Clark of Force Operations at Merseyside Police said: "We have a comprehensive policing plan in place to deal with incidents, and have been working closely with partners including Liverpool Experience Campus, event organisers and security providers to ensure the smooth and safe running of the Labour Party Conference. Merseyside Police respects the right to protest, but where offences are committed, proportionate action will be taken."
The arrests, which continued for hours, were criticised by Amnesty International, calling them a "shameful attack on freedom of speech".
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, which organised the protest, said: "We had hoped the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, would do the sensible thing and bin the ban on Palestine Action given the weight of public pressure to do so and the escalating amount of resources required in enforcing it. Continuing the charade of the proscription of Palestine Action is illogical, unsustainable and immoral."
"Hundreds of people, from professions including teachers, pensioners, and healthcare workers, are willing to be arrested today to let Andy Burnham know that it is not enough just to say that Israel is committing war crimes including ethnic cleansing in Gaza, he must take meaningful action to end UK complicity with Israel's crimes."
"The first step the PM could do today, from the podium of his inaugural party conference is to commit to ending the prosecution and jailing of people as terrorists just for standing up against war crimes and genocide." One of those arrested was human rights barrister Margaret Owen, 94.
