leicester.news
We were arrested under the Terrorism Act for doing our jobs
* * *
This story was published by **The Leicester Gazette** : a local, independent newspaper about Leicestershire. 1,000 people have already joined our community. Just use those buttons below to download our app and **sign up for free**.
* * *
At 10am on Thursday 8 October, around 40 people gathered outside the UAV Tactical Systems (U-TacS) factory in Braunstone in support of Palestine Action. Over the past few years, members of our team have reported from the site without any issues. However, we’d later discover that this day would be very, very different.
Last July, Palestine Action was proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, effectively labelling it a terrorist organisation. Since then, major demonstrations have taken place across the UK in support of the group, with protesters rejecting that label. Last week’s protest was the largest in Leicester since the proscription.
Many protesters in Braunstone held signs supporting the proscribed group, bearing the words: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” Legal observers and journalists were also present.
Leicestershire Police deployed a large number of officers and, at around 12pm, arrested everyone at the site under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, including us.
## The arrests of Journalists is ‘deeply concerning’
Police asked reporters to provide their names and details before leaving the area, warning they would not be allowed back to the protest site. An officer accused reporters of “livestreaming support” for Palestine Action and stated this was the reason for the arrest. Police later declined to say whether any livestreaming had been identified.
0:00
/2:27
1×
ITV News interview with Leicester Gazette reporter Joseph Herbert. Video: ITV News
On the day, one freelance photojournalist, unaffiliated with the Gazette, said:
> “It is not only in violation of section 17 of the Public Order Act to be arrested under the Terrorist [sic] Act, but we’ve also been told that livestreaming counts as an offence as to supporting a prescribed organisation. As a result of this, we are currently detained with originally 30 other people, and we are now awaiting confirmation as to whether we are still under arrest. We’ve been told that if we give our details, we’ll be removed from the area.”
Reporters were eventually allowed to remain on the scene after providing their details and being de-arrested.
Arrests made at Defend Our Juries demo outside U-TacS factory in Braunstone on 8 October. Photograph: Devon Winters
The arrests of journalists have been called ‘deeply concerning’ by press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders. A spokesperson said:
> “[We are] deeply concerned to hear of the arrest of journalists covering a protest in Leicester, particularly given they had identified themselves as such to police. No journalist should have to weigh the risk of arrest against their duty to inform the public. If reporters cannot cover protests freely, the public is left in the dark about events it has a right to know about. Policing and government must ensure that journalists are free to do their jobs without interference.”
The organisers of the protest, Defend Our Juries (DOJ), said:
> “Leicestershire Police should be ashamed of this sickening assault on free speech, kettling and arresting under terror laws not only those peacefully holding signs but also journalists, photographers and videographers. If the government has any integrity, it will put a stop to these embarrassing scenes right now. If it defends the proscription in the Supreme Court, it’s Andy Burnham who will own this national disgrace.”
After the demonstration, a spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said:
> “35 people were arrested on suspicion of Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 – to wear clothing or carry articles in public which arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of Palestine Action.
>
> “A number of people identifying themselves as journalists were at the scene of protest activity in Meridian Way, Braunstone.”
One of the 35 was further arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order. They were taken into police custody. All 35 have since been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries being carried out.
## Join the conversation
Our app is more than just a way to keep up – it's a gateway to award-winning journalism and the local community.
__Want to support our work?__ Click here for membership__.__
## ‘I’ve never done anything like this – but I must take a stand’
Despite there being over 3,000 arrests under section 13 in the past 15 months, residents in Leicester were determined to show their support for Palestine Action. One protester, Helen Everett, 75, a retired local government officer from Leicester, said:
> “I've never done anything like this before, but I feel I must take a stand because I don’t believe direct action that prevents the weapons being made in the UK for Israel’s genocide is terrorism.”
She added:
> “I am here to urge our leaders to act in line with their words on Gaza. Israel is committing ethnic cleansing against Palestinians and therefore our government has both a moral and legal obligation to stop manufacturing and supplying weapon parts for Israel immediately. The courts have got better things to do than arrest and send to prison elderly people who are protesting for moral principles.”
U-TacS has been the site of a string of protests since at least 2023. Protesters have previously dumped manure outside the gates of the building, blocked access to the factory, climbed onto the roof, and held numerous demonstrations in the area, including a funeral procession.
In May 2024, a judge at Leicester Crown Court cleared two Palestine Action activists charged with causing criminal damage in 2021, ruling that property damage was justified to save lives.
According to a freedom of information request submitted in January, U-TacS has held licence to export hardware to Israel since at least 2016. Whether shipments have been sent to Israel for use by the Israeli Defence Forces is not currently known.
A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Arms Trade said:
> “It is certainly possible that some of the components and other equipment supplied by U-TacS to Israel has ended up being used by the Israeli military, including the various licences for components for UAVs, or the complete UAVs being taken apart for spares, etc. We have never had a clear explanation for the final end use of the equipment on those U-TacS licences that are not temporary and are not for incorporation and re-export.”
The factory is owned by Elbit Systems UK, the UK arm of the Israeli defence company whose Hermes 450 UAV was involved in 2024 to strike and kill several aid workers in Gaza.
* * *
**Before you go…** We’ve recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers, which is amazing considering we’re a small team on a shoestring budget.
Now, we’re ready for the next stage of the Leicester Gazette. **Download our new app and get all of our journalism anytime, anywhere.**
The app connects with **Bluesky** , **Mastodon** and **Threads** , giving you access to a network of around 60 million people. It’s a safer, more meaningful alternative to mainstream social media – owned by the community.
* * *
