Lawyers for Palestine protest organisers say restrictions on BBC demo 'unlawful'
Lawyers representing pro-Palestine campaigners charged with breaking protest laws in the UK described the case against them as “unlawful” as the government presented its case against them on Thursday.
Last year, Ben Jamal, the head of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), and Chris Nineham, vice-chair of the Stop the War Coalition, were charged with breaking the Public Order Act after a demonstration in London in which some protesters walked to Trafalgar Square in the direction of the BBC headquarters after the Metropolitan Police imposed restrictions which forbade them from marching.
Both activists pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On Thursday, Kevin Dent KC, representing the British government, accused Jamal of “inciting crowds” to break the law and march towards the BBC's headquarters in central London, which had been the original intention of the protest organisers before the restrictions were imposed.
During proceedings, Dent showed the court a video of a speech made in January 2025 in which Jamal told a crowd that he and other protest leaders planned to attempt to walk towards the BBC’s headquarters to protest the corporation’s reporting of the genocide in Gaza as an example of “incitement”.
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“Mr Jamal incited the crowd and indeed they did,” Dent told the court.
In response, Mark Summers KC, representing Jamal and Nineham, rejected Dent’s claims and declared the Met’s protest restrictions as “unlawful” - citing a previous ruling made by the Court of Appeal that ruled legislation granting the police “unlimited powers” to restrict protests was created unlawfully.
“It is patently clear from the text of the speech that Mr Jamal was not inciting anyone to breach conditions,” said Summers.
'It is patently clear from the text of the speech that Mr Jamal was not inciting anyone to breach conditions'
- Mark Summers KC
The January protests was one of more than 20 national protests held since October 2023 calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the UK government's support for Israel.
While previous marches had proceeded through central London, this protest was restricted to a static rally after concerns were raised that the march would disrupt the activities of a synagogue.
The prosecution also called Metropolitan Police Commander Adam Slonecki, who managed the police operation on the day.
Stressing that protesting outside the BBC was "legitimate" because it is a "public institution", Slonecki told the court that disruption to services at a nearby synagogue was a major factor that contributed to the Met's decision to impose protest restrictions.
"There were specific complaints [from the Jewish community] around the timing of PSC's protests and having to cancel their activities, particularly around the Sabbath," said Slonecki.
'Withdraw, withdraw'
Summers meanwhile highlighted the confusion within police ranks as events unfolded at the first cordon on Whitehall after body-worn camera footage from officers at the scene was played in court.
Quoting a vulgar remark directly from an officer captured on camera after the police line had given way, Summers read aloud: “I present you the massive clusterfuck that was.”
The comment, he argued, reflected the chaotic and reactive nature of the policing operation. In other clips, an officer can be heard shouting “withdraw, withdraw” as the cordon came under pressure from the sheer density of the crowd.
Summers said the footage undermined the prosecution’s portrayal of a calculated plan to overwhelm police lines. Instead, he argued, it showed operational confusion, inconsistent communication and officers struggling to manage large numbers.
Organisers denied the police claim that protesters had forced their way through a cordon after ending their protest in Whitehall.
A coalition of advocacy groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain, the Stop the War Coalition, and Friends of Al-Aqsa, publicly announced the march's original route on 30 November.
Key restrictions imposed by the police included a ban on beginning the march outside the BBC, citing concerns about its proximity to a synagogue.
Demonstrators said they wanted to "protest against the pro-Israel bias" of the BBC's coverage of Gaza.
However, the Metropolitan Police altered the route after objections from pro-Israel groups, chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, and several MPs.
The coalition negotiated with the police over restrictions and routes, and many MPs, celebrities, and prominent figures condemned the restrictions.
The trial continues.
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