Met Police take no action over Sarah Helm's pro-Palestine Action post

Summary

The Metropolitan Police said Sarah Helm's X post, which appeared to express support for Palestine Action, the group banned under British terrorism law, was assessed by specialist officers and did not meet the criminal threshold, so no further police action will be taken. Helm is a journalist and author married to Jonathan Powell, the UK prime minister's national security adviser. She posted in response to broadcaster Adam Boulton, who had criticised novelist Sally Rooney on Sky News over her support for Palestine Action, and whose books are being withdrawn from the UK market. Helm wrote that authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action would have their books swept off shelves, and that Boulton would have all their books removed in a jiffy. Middle East Eye reports that the ban on Palestine Action has been condemned by UN officials and rights groups as censorship of free speech, while pro-Israel organisations have been enthusiastic supporters of it.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   19 Oct 2026, 10:59 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that the Met Police said Sarah Helm's X post backing Palestine Action was assessed by specialist officers, did not meet the criminal threshold, and will not lead to further police action.

2. Middle East Eye

   19 Oct 2026, 11:38 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye's live blog update reports that the Met Police said Sarah Helm's social media post about Palestine Action was not criminal and that no further police action will be taken.