More than 80 Palestine Action protesters arrested outside Labour Conference as Merseyside Police release updated figures

More than 80 Palestine Action protesters have been arrested outside Labour's Annual Conference.

Merseyside Police released a set of updated figures after the terror group threatened to cause chaos at Andy Burnham's first Autumn Conference as Prime Minister.

Officers dealt with 161 people after a protest by Defend Our Juries, a campaign group which organises events for the proscribed terror group, in Liverpool city centre yesterday.

After assembling at The Wheel of Liverpool at 12.30pm with some brandishing material backing Palestine Action, officers arrested 82 people on suspicion of wearing or carrying an article supporting a proscribed organisation.

All have been taken into police custody and have since been released on bail.

Another 79 individuals were reported for summons.

Crowds are estimated to have reached 180 people - although not everyone who attended the organised event was said to have committed a crime.

A police spokesman said: "Merseyside Police respects everyone’s rights to protest lawfully, while also aiming to keep the peace and ensure the public are safe.

"The force makes detailed and coordinated plans ahead of such events to ensure it can apply this consistently, fairly and proportionately."

Following the arrests, Superintendent Peter Clark of Force Operations at Merseyside Police confirmed his team had launched a cross-party effort to ensure the "smooth and safe" operation of the party conference.

He said: "We have a comprehensive policing plan in place to deal with incidents, and have been working closely with partners including Liverpool Experience Campus, event organisers and security providers to ensure the smooth and safe running of the Labour Party Conference.

"Merseyside Police respects the right to protest, but where offences are committed, proportionate action will be taken."

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Last week, it was revealed Palestine Action was plotting to wreak havoc on Mr Burnham's first party conference with a mass protest.

Defend our Juries called on followers to heap more pressure on Mr Burnham to lift the ban on the outlawed organisation and the party's policy on Gaza.

During a separate incident at the same protest, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband came face-to-face with protesters as he chowed down in Pizza Express in the centre of Liverpool.

In a video shared online, Mr Miliband was urged to "desproscribe Palestine Action" and "declare genocide in Gaza" by two activists during the protest.

"We would like you to de-proscribe Palestine Action," they said. "We would like you to declare genocide in Gaza."

While walking off after being turned away by Mr Miliband's team, they continued: "One hundred metres from here, there are 200 people being arrested.

"If you want to have a conversation, come and talk to us as we’re being arrested. Please come and talk to us now. Now is a good time to come and have a conversation."

"There are 200 people being arrested over there because of a decision that your ministers have made. They’re over there waiting, they’re peaceful.

"There are a load of pensioners being arrested for holding pieces of paper."

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation back in June 2025 following a series of incidents including activists breaking into an RAF base in Oxfordshire.

Membership of, or support for, the group was a criminal offence punishable by as long as 14 years in behind bars.