THE Chief Constable of Police Scotland has been challenged over the force’s approach to policing pro-Palestine protests, after more than 500 arrests were made in London last weekend under terrorism laws.
Scottish LibDems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has written to Jo Farrell, asking how Police Scotland intends to navigate tensions between “free speech, policing by consent and proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act”.
The average age of protesters arrested at last weekend’s Parliament Square demonstration was reportedly 54, an estimated 112 of those arrested being above the age of 70.
Commenting on the letter, Cole-Hamilton said: “Proscription must be applied carefully and proportionately, or we risk undermining public trust and civil liberties.
“The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of a liberal democracy. It has clearly been incredibly uncomfortable for police officers to be asked to arrest peaceful demonstrators. This sets a dangerous precedent and risks a chilling impact on free speech and legitimate protest.
“It cannot be right that elderly members of groups like Palestine Action are placed in the same legal category as ISIS.”
He continues: “Anti-terror legislation should be directed towards those who are known or believed to be terrorists. It can only hinder the fight against terror if the 2000 Act is seen to be aimed at people whose intention is to exercise their constitutional rights to protest.
“In my view these powers should be reserved for tackling those who endanger the UK's defence and security, rather than for heavy-handedly removing protesting pensioners from public spaces.
“Obviously while this remains theoretical rather than a live policing issue there is an opportunity to learn from the experience of your colleagues in the Metropolitan Police. I’m keen to understand how Police Scotland intends to navigate the tension that exists here between free speech, policing by consent and the demands of this legislation.”
Three men were arrested in July for wearing t-shirts or holding signs which said "Genocide in Palestine, time to take action" during a peaceful protest in Edinburgh.
On Thursday, The National shared a leaked document written by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre which former diplomat Craig Murray claims shows Home Secretary Yvette Cooper lied about her rationale for proscribing Palestine Action.
It came after the results of an FOI showing that arms firms lobbied both the UK and Scottish Governments to proscribe the group was published by The Ferret.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "It is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 to be a member of a proscribed organisation or to invite or express support for them.
“This includes wearing clothing or carrying any item in public in such a way as to arouse suspicion that they are a member of, or a supporter of a proscribed organisation.
“We are working closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Where police consider there is a sufficiency of evidence, they submit reports to the Procurator Fiscal.
“The fiscal will then consider whether there is enough evidence in law and decides what action, if any, to take in the public interest.”
