FOI 1178- 2025/26- Palestine Action arrests
Request:
Clarification
Please cover from July 2025 to January 2026 - 'Could be associated with' is meant to mean any guidance, training, advice or information issued to Police officers when making arrests under s.12 and s.13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Original request
Q1. Could you please supply me with the following information concerning the proscription of Palestine Action as a Terrorist group under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Please provide the total number of individuals arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with protest activity linked to Palestine Action from January 2024 up to January 2026 Of these arrests, how many resulted in:
Release without charge
Charges dropped
Convictions
Q2. What was the estimated policing cost associated with investigating protestors under terrorism legislation between January 2024 and January 2026, including officer hours, specialist counter-terror units, Surveillance or detention costs (where recorded)
Q3. Please confirm whether any special counter-terrorism funding was used in relation to protest activity linked to Palestine Action.
Q4. Any guidance, training, advice or information issued to Police officers which includes examples of the types of speech, words, or language, symbols, or flags, that could be associated with s.12 and s.13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
If possible, please provide the data electronically and break it down by month.
Response:
Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police.
I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the following information to you.
Q1. North Yorkshire Police holds no arrests under Sections 12 or 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 relating to inviting or expressing support for a proscribed organisation; however, in respect of any other Terrorism Act arrests that may fall within scope of your request, North Yorkshire Police can neither confirm nor deny whether such information is held, by virtue of Sections 24(2), 31(3) and 40(5) of the FOIA. Please see the exemption explanation below.
Q2. No information held
Q3. North Yorkshire Police can neither confirm nor deny whether such information is held, by virtue of Sections 24(2), 31(3) of the FOIA. Please see the exemption explanation below.
Q4. The information you have requested is published on the North Yorkshire Police website under the following link:
FOI 0628-2025-26- Palestine Action protest training | North Yorkshire Police
I have therefore decided to exempt providing you with a response to question 4 pursuant to Section 21 Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act). Please see the exemption explanation below.
Exemption Explanation
Section 17 of the Act requires North Yorkshire Police, when refusing to provide such information (because the information is exempt) to provide you the applicant with a notice which: (a) states that fact, (b) specifies the exemption in question and (c) states (if that would not otherwise be apparent) why the exemption applies.
Section 40(5) is an absolute class based exemption, which does not require a public interest test, but requires the balancing of the legitimate interests of the public against the interests of the individual under the first Data Protection Principle; in that processing of personal data must be lawful and fair (DPA 2018 35(1), EUGDPR Article 5(1)).
Section 24 and 31 are prejudiced based qualified exemptions and there is a requirement to evidence the prejudice (harm) in disclosure and consider the public interest to ensure neither confirming or denying that information is held is appropriate.
Section 21 is an absolute class based exemption and I am not required to consider the harm or public interest when applying this exemption.
HARM (s24(2) & s31(3))
Confirming or denying whether North Yorkshire Police holds any other Terrorism Act arrests linked to protest activity associated with Palestine Action, or whether any special counter‑terrorism funding was used in relation to such activity, would risk providing an advantage to individuals seeking to undermine policing strategies, particularly those designed to safeguard national security.
FOIA is a disclosure to the world; therefore, any acknowledgement of information held could be misused, potentially compromising sensitive counter‑terrorism operations.
Confirmation or denial would also enable individuals to infer whether North Yorkshire Police has deployed counter‑terrorism resources or investigative tactics in relation to specific protest activity. This could assist those intent on disrupting police activity by adapting behaviour to evade detection, identifying perceived gaps in capability, or assessing the likelihood of being the subject of CT interest.
Any information indicating the focus of policing or counter‑terrorism activity—whether arrests or funding—could be exploited by terrorists, extremists, or organised criminals. Whether information is or is not held, disclosure would adversely affect public safety, compromise operational tactics, and undermine the ability of policing to protect national security. Additionally, confirmation or denial could facilitate “mosaic requests,” enabling malicious actors to combine multiple disclosures to build a picture of counter‑terrorism posture, resourcing, or thresholds. This would significantly undermine operational effectiveness and the prevention and detection of crime.
The threat from terrorism in the UK remains significant, and policing relies on the covert and flexible deployment of counter‑terrorism assets. Confirming or denying whether North Yorkshire Police holds relevant information would therefore be counterproductive to safeguarding national security, frustrate law enforcement functions, and weaken long‑established policing methods. For these reasons, confirming or denying whether this information is held may compromise the efficiency of policing services, prejudice ongoing or future investigations, and increase the risk to the public.
Public Interest Test
Factors favouring confirmation or denial for Section 24 - Confirming or denying whether the requested information is held could promote transparency regarding national security arrangements and enable the public to understand how resources are allocated to protect the country. This openness could strengthen public confidence in the effectiveness of security strategies.
Factors against confirmation or denial for Section 24 - Disclosure of any policing or counter‑terrorism arrangements of this nature would render security measures less effective. Confirming or denying the existence of information relating to CT arrests or CT funding would compromise operations designed to protect the UK’s infrastructure and public safety. This would increase the risk of harm to the public and necessitate a review of CT security arrangements, incurring additional costs and operational risk.
Factors favouring confirmation or denial for Section 31 - Confirming or denying whether North Yorkshire Police holds the requested information could demonstrate accountability and openness in policing operations. It would reinforce public confidence in the police service and its commitment to transparency about how it engages with its responsibilities and utilises public funds.
Factors against confirmation or denial for Section 31 - Confirming or denying whether North Yorkshire Police holds records relating to additional TACT arrests or the use of CT funding could compromise policing tactics, hinder the prevention and detection of crime, and reveal operational focus. This could enable criminal groups or extremists to exploit policing methods, directly affecting North Yorkshire Police resources and public safety. Disclosure also risks undermining collaborative CT law‑enforcement efforts essential for managing complex and sensitive investigations.
Balance Test
The security of the country is paramount. North Yorkshire Police will not confirm or deny whether information is held if doing so would undermine national security, law‑enforcement functions, or investigative processes. While transparency is important, the public interest in safeguarding the integrity of counter‑terrorism operations and maintaining effective policing capability is significantly stronger.
Confirming or denying whether information is held could enable individuals to gain insight into CT investigative strategies, funding deployment, operational thresholds, or arrest activity, jeopardising operations and increasing the risk of harm. Any disclosure that risks prejudicing national security or law enforcement is therefore not in the public interest.
Accordingly, after weighing the competing interests, confirmation or denial of whether North Yorkshire Police holds information relating to this request would not be in the public interest. This should not be taken as indicating whether such information exists.
Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.