Two people have been arrested on suspicion of shouting slogans calling for 'intifada' during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London, police have confirmed. The arrests were made outside the Ministry of Justice in Westminster on Wednesday evening, as part of a total of five detentions at the protest, with further arrests for obstruction and public order offences.
The arrests came hours after the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced a change in approach, stating they would now arrest anyone chanting 'globalise the intifada' or displaying placards with the phrase. The police chiefs, Sir Mark Rowley and Sir Stephen Watson, said the decision was driven by recent violent attacks against Jewish people in Manchester and Sydney, which they argued had changed the context of such protests.
In a joint statement, the chiefs said: 'The words and chants used, especially in protests, matter and have real-world consequences. We have consistently been advised by the CPS that many of the phrases causing fear in Jewish communities don't meet prosecution thresholds. Now, in the escalating threat context, we will recalibrate to be more assertive.' They added that officers would be briefed on the enhanced approach and would use powers under the Public Order Act, including conditions around London synagogues during services.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which organises many of the protests, condemned the move as 'political repression of protest for Palestinian rights', arguing that uttering the word 'intifada' is not a call for violence. The Community Security Trust, a leading Jewish safety group, welcomed the announcement, saying it was 'not a moment too soon' and described it as a necessary step to combat 'violent incitement'.
The Crown Prosecution Service has not confirmed whether the new approach will lead to successful prosecutions. The Metropolitan Police has faced criticism from both sides, with some accusing it of being too lenient on protests and others of being overly severe.
