
THE Palestine Action ban faced further ridicule yesterday after Merseyside Police confirmed that having a sign in support for the banned group is legal — as long as you don’t take it outside.
Defend Our Juries, which has been organising protests against the proscription of the direct action group under terror laws, shared a transcript of when supporter Keith Hackett was visited by police on Saturday.
Since July, he has had in his from window a poster saying: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
More than 700 others have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for displaying the same message but in the encounter recorded on film, a police officer reassured him his sign was lawful, as long as he didn’t take it outside, saying: “As I’m sure you’re aware, there is no offence with it because it’s in a private dwelling, you’re allowed to say that, it would only be an offence if it was in a public place.”
Mr Hackett replied: “I did not know that! I’m astonished. A lot of people are going to be astonished by that. I’m very grateful to you.”
A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: “Express support for Palestine Action from your front window and the police will reassure you that what you’re doing is completely lawful.
“Take precisely the same message out of the house, you can be arrested under the Terrorism Act, and in the extreme case of South Wales Police, have your house raided and your baked beans tested for radiation with a geiger counter.
“How can anyone take this seriously? The government should scrap this embarrassing law. It must stop supporting Israel's genocide.”
Merseyside Police have been approached for comment.
Protests are set to continue until a High Court challenge over Palestine Action’s ban in November.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe it three days after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage.
She described the vandalism of the planes as “disgraceful” and the group had a “long history of unacceptable criminal damage” and membership of, or support for, Palestine Action became a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.