Dominic Casciani

The UK Supreme Court has granted Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori permission to appeal the group's proscription under terrorism legislation, with the case expected to be expedited after the summer. Ammori argues that the ban violates human rights, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the government will robustly defend it and maintains that the group carried out serious criminal damage and promoted violence. The Court of Appeal previously overturned a High Court ruling that the ban was unlawful. The Supreme Court's decision could significantly affect the use of terrorism laws against groups accused of ideologically motivated criminal damage. The development followed the jailing of four activists over a £1.2m raid on a defence-firm site and the arrest of about 117 protesters outside Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Chan Mathok Atak, a 19-year-old Sudanese national, has denied piloting a rigid-hulled inflatable boat carrying 165 migrants across the English Channel. Prosecutors allege he was one of two people controlling the overcrowded, poor-quality vessel, which was intercepted by Border Force near Dover. Atak was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Canterbury Crown Court on 24 August. The crossing set a record for the largest number of migrants on a single vessel. A man died in French waters during the same period, though authorities have not established whether his death was connected to the crossing. The case is being brought under a new government offence targeting those who steer small boats, while official figures show overall arrivals have fallen but the average number of migrants per boat has increased.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused a planned early-release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales pending an urgent public-safety review. The Sentencing Act would allow most fixed-term prisoners to leave custody after serving one-third of their sentence, with up to 6,000 offenders expected to benefit from September. The pause follows public anger over the possible release of Albert Bowers and Jessie Cole, who were convicted of manslaughter in the death of PC Andrew Harper; their release timetable is now uncertain, while driver Henry Long is unaffected. Scrapping or delaying the scheme could ease concerns about risk but would worsen prison overcrowding and place further pressure on already overstretched probation services.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has paused a planned early-release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales pending an urgent review of risks to the public. The policy, due to begin on 2 September under the Sentencing Act 2026, would allow most fixed-term prisoners to leave custody after serving one-third of their sentence, with up to 6,000 offenders expected to benefit. The pause follows anger from PC Andrew Harper’s widow over the possible release of two men convicted of his manslaughter; their release date is now uncertain, while driver Henry Long is unaffected by the changes. Scrapping the scheme would require Parliament to act and could worsen an already severe prison-overcrowding crisis, while continuing it would place further pressure on probation services.