Met Police Settles Claim With Activist Over Terrorism Law Arrest

The Metropolitan Police have reached a settlement in a legal case brought by 68-year-old activist Tej Singh Bhandal, who accused the force of treating him like a criminal during an arrest under anti-terrorism legislation. The incident occurred at St Pancras International station in London when Bhandal was returning to the UK via Eurostar. He was removed from a queue by officers and subsequently detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 after he refused to provide the pin code for his mobile phone.

Met Police Palestine Action Controversy

Bhandal, who is involved with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, described the experience as incredibly humiliating and an abuse of power. He stated that he was handcuffed and escorted through the station in public view, noting that he felt he was being treated as a criminal stereotype. Following his detention, he launched a legal challenge against the police. The force has now agreed to settle the claim and drop the criminal investigation against him. This development comes as the Met Police Palestine Action arrests continue to draw public attention, with numerous protesters recently taken into custody outside the Supreme Court during a legal appeal regarding a ban on the group.

The Metropolitan Police admitted that the arrest of a 68-year-old activist under anti-terrorism laws was unlawful.

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter-terrorism policing in London, acknowledged that the examination and subsequent arrest of Bhandal did not meet the requirements of the legislation. She confirmed that the force has issued an apology and is currently reviewing the circumstances to ensure that such powers are exercised lawfully in the future. Lawyers representing Bhandal noted that Scotland Yard has accepted that supporting or funding lawful political protest organizations, such as the BDS movement, does not inherently establish a link to terrorism.

Bhandal believes he was targeted due to an intelligence flag placed on his name following a 2025 investigation into an incident at an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol. During that earlier event, he was questioned by counter-terrorism officers for four days, though no further action was taken against him at that time. His legal team at Hodge Jones & Allen emphasized that adequate safeguards are essential to prevent the arbitrary use of anti-terrorism laws, expressing hope that this case will lead to more stringent adherence to statutory obligations.

Why it matters

This case highlights growing concerns regarding the creeping criminalization of protest action in the UK. By settling the claim and apologizing, the Metropolitan Police have signaled a need to re-evaluate how counter-terrorism powers are applied to political activists.

The outcome serves as a reminder of the tension between national security measures and the right to peaceful protest. For observers, it underscores the importance of legal oversight in ensuring that police powers are not misused to target individuals based on their political affiliations or past involvement in activism.