Street preachers convicted in ‘modern-day heresy trial’
Two street preachers have today been convicted of a public order offence, after a public prosecutor claimed that publicly quoting parts of the King James Bible in modern Britain should “be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter”. Prosecutor Ian Jackson also told the court that “although the words preached are included in ...
28 February 2017 Articles
The three big threats to UK street ministry
Christian street ministry has a long and fruitful history in the United Kingdom. But in recent years the freedom to preach in the streets has been severely curtailed. We’ve supported many public ambassadors for Christ who have been arrested, prosecuted or even attacked for their Christian views. And it’s usually because they bring the light ...
23 December 2025 Articles
Preacher acquitted after ‘hate claim’ for saying ‘we love the Jews’
Christian street preacher Shaun O’Sullivan has been cleared by a jury at Swindon Crown Court after a trial that raised serious questions about freedom of speech and the policing of so-called “hate claims.” Mr O’Sullivan, 36, who is being supported by lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre, faced charges of religiously aggravated intentional harassment under ...
24 November 2025 Articles
Preacher acquitted after being falsely accused
Christian street preacher, Michael Jones, 75, has this week been acquitted of all charges following a prosecution that stemmed from an alleged incident in Beverley town centre on 1 December 2023. The case, supported by lawyers with the Christian Legal Centre, raised important questions about the boundaries of free speech and the misrepresentation of personal ...
22 August 2025 Articles
Christian preacher vindicated after arrest for questioning Qur’an
Christian street preacher, John Steele, has been vindicated after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against him following his arrest in Rotherham town centre for asking a member of the public what the Quran says about domestic violence. The incident, captured on police body cam footage, which led to Mr. Steele being detained and threatened with a ...
28 July 2025 Articles
Street ministry is a service to the community
Sean Redfearn comments on the recent good news from Uxbridge, that a church will be able to continue its evangelistic outreach ministry As Christians, we know that Jesus has the power to change a life – any life – in an eternal way and in a way that nothing else can. That’s why so many ...
23 July 2025 Articles
Labour council U-turn from criminalising Christian street preaching
A Labour council has been forced into a dramatic U-turn after it sought a court injunction to criminalise Christian prayer, singing and evangelism in public. On 7 March 2025, Rushmoor Borough Council sought an injunction at Aldershot and Farnham County Court that would have imposed draconian restrictions on Christian Street preachers in Aldershot and Farnborough. ...
12 May 2025 Articles
Preacher to appeal after arrest for criticising Islam
In a concerning setback to the right to free speech, the High Court has rejected the appeal of a Christian preacher who was arrested outside Southwark Cathedral for displaying placards which protested Islam in the wake of the London Bridge, Westminster, and Manchester Arena terrorist attacks. Ian Sleeper, 58, was arrested outside Southwark Cathedral on ...
28 January 2025 Articles
Preacher wins payout after arrest for damaging her own Qur’an
A Christian preacher has won £10,000 in damages and costs from the Metropolitan Police after being arrested, strip searched and unlawfully imprisoned for wearing a Charlie Hebdo t-shirt and having her property stolen at Speakers’ Corner in London. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Miss Hatun Tash had launched legal action after she was arrested ...
20 September 2024 ArticlesChristian preacher challenges arrest for protesting Islam
Tomorrow at the High Court, a Christian preacher will appeal a ruling which upheld his arrest outside Southwark Cathedral for displaying placards which protested against Islam in the wake of terrorist attacks. Following one complaint from a member of the public, Ian Sleeper, 57, who is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, was surrounded ...
7 May 2024 Articles
Preacher to appeal conviction for holding Bible verse sign
A Christian preacher has been found guilty of breaching a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for holding a sign with a verse from the Bible on it outside of an abortion clinic. Stephen Green, 72, from South Wales, was prosecuted by Ealing Council under section 67 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 ...
2 February 2024 Articles
Preacher awaits verdict for holding Bible verse sign in buffer zone
On February 1 2024, at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in London, a Christian preacher will learn if he will be criminalised for holding a sign with a verse from the Bible’s renowned Psalm 139 on it within a ‘buffer zone’ outside of an abortion clinic. Stephen Green, 72, from South Wales, was prosecuted by Ealing Council ...
31 January 2024 Articles
Preacher faces prosecution for displaying Psalm 139 in ‘buffer zone’
This Friday at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, a Christian preacher and campaigner faces potentially being sent to prison for six months for holding a sign with a verse from the Bible’s renowned Psalm 139 on it within a ‘buffer zone’ outside of a London abortion clinic. Stephen Green, 72, from South Wales, was prosecuted by Ealing Council ...
18 January 2024 Articles
Teaching assistant wins £7,000 settlement after sacking for street preaching
A Christian teaching assistant has won a £7,000 legal settlement from a school in Leeds after he was sacked for street preaching in his spare time. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Mr Andy Nix, 65, took legal action against Temple Moor High School in Leeds after he was sacked without notice for taking part ...
11 January 2024 ArticlesPreacher arrested for protesting Islam wins chance to appeal
On 20 November, a Christian preacher won permission to appeal a ruling which upheld his arrest outside Southwark Cathedral, London, after his displaying of placards which protested against Islam in the wake of terrorist attacks. Following one complaint from a member of the public, Ian Sleeper, 57, was surrounded by four officers and arrested on ...
20 November 2023 ArticlesChristian preacher prosecuted over Bible verse in buffer zone
A Christian preacher and campaigner faces being sent to prison for six months for holding a sign with a verse from the Bible’s renowned Psalm 139 on it within a ‘buffer zone’ outside of a London abortion clinic. Stephen Green, 72, from South Wales, was prosecuted by Ealing Council under section 67 of the Anti-Social ...
16 October 2023 Articles
‘Misgendering’ is not a crime: support preacher convicted for ‘misgendering’
Did you know you could be fined £620 and forced to do 80 hours of community service for ‘misgendering’ someone? In June 2021, Dave McConnell was preaching in Leeds when a ‘trans woman’ asked him whether God accepted the LGBT community, answering truthfully and Scripturally. However, after members of the crowd shouted, swore and made ...
7 March 2023 Articles
Preacher wins after claim parts of Bible ‘no longer acceptable’
A criminal prosecution against a street preacher arrested for an alleged ‘hate crime’ has been dropped in which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) argued that parts of the Bible are ‘abusive’ and ‘no longer appropriate in modern society.’ John Dunn, 55, a cancer survivor from Swindon who has served in the British Army’s Special Forces, ...
22 November 2022 Articles
Christian preacher’s Covid regs case dropped
The first Christian preacher to fall foul of coronavirus laws during the first English lockdown, has had the case against him dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The loss of religious freedom due to coronavirus regulations during the pandemic has been hotly contested, most notably in the successful judicial review of Scottish restrictions on ...
9 September 2021 Articles
Preacher to pursue legal action against police after Easter arrest and fine
A judge has ruled that it was right for the police to arrest and fine a Christian volunteer for breaking Covid regulations by street preaching on Easter Sunday. Andrew Sathiyavan, 46, who is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre, was arrested on Sutton High Street in south London on Easter Sunday 2020 after being told ...
1 July 2021 Articles
Free to preach the gospel on the streets of Greenwich
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet ...
16 April 2021 ArticlesCourt to hear four Christian preachers’ case against police after brutal arrests
This Monday, four Christian preachers, known as ‘the Bristol Four’, will challenge Avon and Somerset Police over their brutal arrests following a dramatic incident in July 2016. Beginning on Monday 7 December at Bristol County Court, Mike Overd, Don Karns, Mike Stockwell and AJ Clarke will bring claims against the police for: assault, false imprisonment, ...
4 December 2020 Articles
Police remove preacher from Speakers’ Corner
Tim Dieppe comments on the recent removal by police of preacher Hatun Tash at Hyde Park’s Speakers’ Corner. ‘The home of free speech’ Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park has long been a bastion of free speech in the UK. It is reputed to be the most famous location for free speech in the world. A ...
26 September 2020 Articles
Christian preacher arrested in Barking for hate speech has charges dropped
Christian Legal Centre client, Pastor David Lynn, was released on Wednesday (21 March) without charge after being arrested outside Barking Tube Station on 20 March 2018 for preaching the gospel. David was held at Fresh Wharf Custody Base in Barking for over 20 hours, during which he was questioned by the police under caution. Preached ...
23 March 2018 Articles