Police take no further action over government adviser's wife's post
Police will not take further action against the wife of the UK's national security adviser over a social media post referencing Palestine Action. The post was assessed and found not to meet the criminal threshold.
The Metropolitan Police has stated that no further action will be taken against Sarah Helm, wife of Jonathan Powell, the UK's national security adviser. Helm had posted on the social media platform X, referencing support for the group Palestine Action.
Police assessed Helm's post and determined that it "did not meet the criminal threshold". "No further police action will be taken," the Met Police said on Saturday. The force had previously stated it was "in the process of being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required" after being "made aware of an X post on Thursday, 15 October referencing Palestine Action".
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July 2025. Supporting the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The case arose after best-selling author Sally Rooney announced she would donate royalties from her books to the group, having previously voiced support for Palestine Action.
As a result, Rooney's publisher, Faber, decided it could not sell her novels, including "Normal People" and "Conversations with Friends", in the UK. The group's stated aim is to "end Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime's global participation".
The police decision not to pursue further action against Helm follows their assessment that her post did not meet the legal threshold for criminal investigation.