British police rule out investigation into Palestine Action post by PM’s adviser’s wife | Israeli-Palestinian conflict News

Officers determine that Sarah Helm’s post, considered to support Palestine Action, “does not meet the criminal threshold.”

Police in the United Kingdom have determined that a social media post by the wife of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s national security adviser, which appears to support Palestine Action, a group banned in the country as a “terrorist” organization, does not merit a criminal investigation.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Saturday that officers had reviewed Sarah Helm’s post and judged it “did not meet the criminal threshold. No further police action will be taken”.

Police said Friday that Helm’s post was “being evaluated to determine whether further police investigation may be necessary.”

Helm, an author and journalist married to national security adviser Jonathan Powell, wrote on X on Thursday: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestinian action. »

Helm made the comment after publisher Faber said this week that its Irish author Sally Rooney could not sell her books in the UK, after announcing plans to use royalties to support Palestine Action.

“Current legislation in the UK has led to circumstances where Faber cannot pass on UK income to Sally Rooney for her work. Selling a writer’s work and not being able to pass on the income is an unconscionable situation for a publisher,” Faber said in a statement on its website.

“As such, and in full agreement with Sally, we have made the decision that we can no longer supply her works in the UK in any format,” the British publisher said, adding that it would continue to sell her works in other countries and regions.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, a British NGO, responded to X that Helm’s message was “staggering” and “clearly the police must investigate and Ms Helm must face the full force of the law”.

After being asked for comment on Friday, a government spokesperson said Helm’s comments “do not represent the government in any way.”

Palestine Action has been banned as a “terrorist” organization since a July 2025 vote by British lawmakers.

Amnesty International says more than 3,500 people have been arrested in the UK for allegedly supporting Palestine Action since it was banned last year, many for holding up signs.

Palestine Action challenged the government’s decision to ban the group, but the Court of Appeal ruled in June that the ban was legal.