THE latest wave of demonstrations against the ban on Palestine Action have underscored “widening tension” between Holyrood and Westminster over group’s proscription, campaigners have warned.

Police arrested at least 142 demonstrators across England and Wales on Tuesday during protests against the ban, according to observers from Defend Our Juries who co-ordinated the actions. 

At least 28 arrests were reported by campaigners in Nottingham, 12 in Newcastle, 25 in Leeds, 20 in Oxford, eight in Truro, nine in Northampton, and 17 in Gloucester in demonstrations which saw protesters peacefully hold signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

In Wales, at least 12 were recorded in Aberystwyth and a further 12 in Cardiff. 

But Police Scotland took a different approach, making no arrests at a protest in Edinburgh attended by 49 people, campaigners said.

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: “The opening day of our November wave of actions has put the spotlight on the widening tension between Holyrood and Westminster over the ludicrous and authoritarian ‘terror’ ban on a domestic direct-action group.

“Previously many police forces have chosen to not enforce the ban, as is their constitutional right. So the uniform response by police forces today looks worryingly co-ordinated.”

At least 2,000 people have been arrested in protests organised by DOJ following Palestine Action’s proscription on July 5. 

About 170 have so far been charged with section 13 offences under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Leigh Evans, a retired emergency nurse who took action in Cardiff, said: “Every right we have has been won for us through protest and direct action from the Levellers in the 17th century to the Suffragettes in the early 1900s. 

“Direct action and protests give us our human rights.”

Further demonstrations have been organised by DOJ running through to November 29.

Th next action will be outside the Ministry of Justice on Thursday, with the department overseeing the prisons that are holding 29 alleged Palestine Action activists without trial, six of whom are on hunger strike.

A protest will also take place in Belfast for the first time on Saturday, while a demonstration will also take place the same day in Tavistock Square, London.