{
  "id": 15256819,
  "title": "Met Police rules Sarah Helm's post backing Palestine Action not criminal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/met-police-rules-sarah-helms-post-backing-palestine-action-not",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T18:24:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/met-police-rules-sarah-helms-post-backing-palestine-action-not-criminal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Metropolitan Police ruled Sarah Helm's social media post supporting Palestine Action not a criminal matter. The post, made by the wife of the British Prime Minister's national security adviser, criticized the UK government's proscription of the activist group. Helm, a journalist and author, wrote on X, \"God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.\" Despite this, the police spokesperson confirmed officers had examined the post and concluded it did not meet the criminal threshold, with no further police action being necessary. The controversy arose after Faber, Helm's publisher, announced they could no longer sell Rooney's book in the UK due to her support for the group. Since the UK government proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025, expressing support for or membership in the direct action group has been deemed a criminal offense, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.",
  "summary": "Met Police rules Sarah Helm's post backing Palestine Action not criminal The Metropolitan Police said Saturday that a social media post by Sarah Helm, the wife of the British prime minister’s national security adviser, backing the proscribed group Palestine Action did not merit a criminal investigation. Sarah Helm, a journalist and author and wife of Jonathan Powell, Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s…",
  "key_points": [
    "Sarah Helm's X post supporting Palestine Action not criminal matter.",
    "Police examined post, concluded it didn't meet criminal threshold.",
    "UK government proscribed Palestine Action in July 2025."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Technology",
        "title": "No further action against government adviser's wife over Palestine Action post, police say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/no-further-action-against-government-advisers-wife-over-palestine",
        "published": "2026-10-17T20:24:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}