Official government statistics have revealed a dramatic 660% increase in terrorism-related arrests in the UK, a surge overwhelmingly linked to the proscription of the activist network Palestine Action.
Unprecedented Spike in Arrest Figures
The data, covering the year to the end of September 2025, shows there were 1,886 terrorism-related arrests. Of these, a staggering 1,630 arrests (86%) were connected to support for Palestine Action. This compares to a total of just 248 terrorism-related arrests in the entire previous year.
Palestine Action was officially added to the list of banned terrorist organisations on 5 July 2025. The law change made membership or support for the group a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Even displaying the group's name on clothing or a sign can now lead to a maximum six-month sentence. The group's co-founder, Huda Ammori, is taking legal action against the Home Office over the ban.
Quarterly Breakdown and Demographic Shift
The vast majority of arrests occurred in the last reported quarter, from July to September 2025, immediately after the ban came into force. In that period alone, there were 1,706 arrests, representing a 2,608% increase compared to the 63 arrests made between April and June.
The data indicates the Palestine Action arrests have driven a significant demographic shift. Those arrested for offences linked to the group were 4.4 times more likely to be female and had an average age of 57. This contrasts sharply with an average age of 30 for other terrorism arrests.
Of the total 1,886 arrests, 319 (17%) have resulted in a charge, including 243 linked to Palestine Action. The charge rate for the previous year was 47%.
Broader Context and Campaigner Criticism
Excluding the Palestine Action-linked cases, the remaining 256 terrorism-related arrests across the year represent a 3% rise. This included a record number of arrests involving children, with 53 aged 17 and under, though only one of these had a Palestine Action connection.
The figures do not include the last three months of 2025, a period which has seen further protests and mass arrests. Nearly 500 people, aged between 18 and 89, were arrested at a central London protest just two days after the Manchester synagogue terror attack.
A spokesperson for the Defend Our Juries campaign group, which organises protests against the ban, stated that 2,717 people have now been arrested for holding signs stating: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." They criticised the proscription by then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, arguing it has led to a "mis-application of counter-terrorism and policing resources" and created "embarrassing scenes" of retirees being arrested. "They are clearly not terrorists in the widely accepted meaning of the term," the spokesperson added.
