Senior police leaders in the United Kingdom have issued a stark warning that individuals chanting the phrase "globalise the intifada" at protests will face arrest. This significant policy shift follows the recent terror attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, which authorities say has altered the security landscape.
A Decisive Shift in Policing Protest Chants
In a joint statement, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson declared their forces would now "act decisively and make arrests" to deter intimidation. They stated that the chant's use in a targeted way or at future protests would prompt immediate police action.
The leaders explained that while the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had previously advised that many provocative phrases did not meet prosecution thresholds, the "escalating threat" context required a recalibration. "Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed – words have meaning and consequence," their statement read.
Contested Meaning and Community Concerns
The term "intifada" is an Arabic word meaning "to shake off." Its interpretation is highly contested. Pro-Palestinian activists often describe it as a call for peaceful resistance against occupation, while organisations like the American Jewish Committee define it as advocating for aggressive resistance against Israel.
The warning aligns with calls from Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who stated that such slogans must be clearly deemed unlawful. Speaking while travelling to Australia, Sir Ephraim referenced both the Bondi Beach attack and an incident at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, arguing that hate speech has the potential to translate into hate action.
"The time has come for us to make it absolutely clear that such speech is unlawful," he said. "It’s not going to be accepted. It’s gone on for far too long."
Reactions and Oversight
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity protecting British Jews, welcomed the move as "not a moment too soon," praising the more robust response. Similarly, the Campaign Against Antisemitism suggested police chiefs were "finally waking up" to the consequences of inflammatory rhetoric.
However, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stated it would monitor the enforcement of this decision closely. The human rights regulator has previously expressed concerns about potential "chilling effects" on democratic rights related to protest laws.
The policy announcement comes after the Bondi Beach attack on Sunday evening, during Hanukkah celebrations. Surviving suspect Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act, among other charges. His father, Sajid, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene.
