Street preachers in legal battle to prevent council criminalising Christianity
A group of street preachers are at the centre of what is believed to be an unprecedented legal battle with a local authority which has tried to impose an injunction, without proper consultation, that would criminalise Christian prayer, singing and evangelism. Following an intervention by the Christian Legal Centre and local politicians, preachers have managed ...
31 March 2025 ArticlesStreet preachers in legal battle to prevent council criminalising Christianity
A group of street preachers are at the centre of what is believed to be an unprecedented legal battle with a local authority which has tried to impose an injunction, without proper consultation, that would criminalise Christian prayer, singing and evangelism.
29 March 2025 Press OfficeWin for street preachers arrested for Bible preaching outside ‘Witchcraft Emporium’ flying LGBTQI flags in Glastonbury
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has dropped a case against two street preachers who faced being criminalised following arrests for refusing to stop preaching from the Bible on Glastonbury High Street.
6 March 2024 Press Office
Street preachers share powerful testimonies of finding Christ
The Bible was once revered in the courtroom; now it’s accused of being ‘abusive’ and ‘no longer appropriate in modern society’. With thanks to support from the Christian Legal Centre, two street preachers have recently won their cases, having both been accused of ‘hate speech’ after quoting the Bible and explaining who God is. Freedom ...
5 December 2022 Articles
Bristol street preachers win permission to appeal over police arrests
Four Christian preachers have won the right to appeal a judgment that ruled they had been lawfully arrested for preaching in Bristol City Centre. Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the four preachers – Mike Overd, Don Karns, Mike Stockwell and AJ Clarke – had originally brought claims against Avon and Somerset police for: assault, false ...
19 October 2021 ArticlesBristol street preachers win permission to appeal over police arrests
Four Christian preachers have won the right to appeal a judgment that ruled they had been lawfully arrested for preaching in Bristol City Centre.
19 October 2021 Press Office
Victory as magistrates rule street preachers were free to evangelise in lockdown
London magistrates have thrown out a case against a Christian preacher, who was fined and prosecuted by the Metropolitan police for evangelising on Good Friday, 2020. Joshua Sutcliffe, 31, along with one socially distanced friend, was preaching and handing out leaflets in Camden, North London, on 10 April 2020 when the two of them were ...
23 July 2021 ArticlesMagistrates rule street preachers were entitled to evangelise and gather during lockdown
London magistrates have thrown out a case against a Christian preacher, who was fined and prosecuted by the Metropolitan police for evangelising on Good Friday, 2020.
23 July 2021 Press Office
Crazy cathedrals and stately street preachers
Christian Concern Communications Manager, Paul Huxley, comments on Norwich Cathedral’s recent decision to install a helter skelter ride in its nave. What’s wrong with putting crazy golf courses and helter skelters in cathedrals? The decision of Norwich Cathedral to install a helter skelter in its nave has ignited debate about the role of cathedrals in ...
12 August 2019 ArticlesStreet preachers convicted for quoting Bible in ‘modern day heresy trial’
Two street preachers have been convicted of public order offences, after a public prosecutor claimed that quoting parts of the King James Bible in the context of modern British society "must be considered to be abusive and is a criminal matter".
28 February 2017 Press OfficeChristian street preachers acquitted of public order offences
Two Christian street preachers have today been acquitted of public order offences, after being convicted in February in what was described as a "modern day heresy trial".
29 June 2017 Press OfficeTwo street preachers interviewed for hate speech in Camberley, Surrey have all charges dropped
A Reading street preacher of 30 years (Dave Barker) and co-preacher (Stephen Wan) have had all charges dropped against them.
16 January 2018 Press Office
Two street preachers questioned over hate speech have all charges dropped
David Barker, who has been a street preacher for 30 years, and Stephen Wan were cleared with the help of the Christian Legal Centre. As they were preaching, a number of hecklers gathered and made trouble for the preachers. It was alleged that the preachers said “homosexuals are going to hell” and “man cannot lie ...
16 January 2018 Articles
Christian street preachers acquitted of public order offences
Two Christian street preachers have today been acquitted of public order offences, after being convicted in February in what was described as a “modern day heresy trial”. Michael Overd and Michael Stockwell were found guilty under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 at Bristol Magistrates’ Court in February this year, with Prosecutor Ian Jackson claiming that ...
29 June 2017 Articles
Why we must protect our street preachers
The Christian Legal Centre’s Roger Kiska comments on two street preachers being convicted of public order offences for quoting the Bible. February 28, 2017 was a historic day in the United Kingdom as two street preachers, Michael Overd and Michael Stockwell, were convicted for comments they made while publicly preaching the gospel in Bristol. While ...
3 March 2017 Articles
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 ArticlesChristian street preacher acquitted by jury after ‘Islamophobia 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.”
23 November 2025 Press Office
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 ArticlesLabour council U-turn on injunction that would have criminalised Christian street preaching and Christmas carols
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.
10 May 2025 Press OfficeStreet preacher arrested in London for criticising Islam to appeal
In a concerning setback to the right of free speech, today (28 Jan 2025), the High Court has rejected the appeal of a Christian preacher arrested outside Southwark Cathedral for displaying placards which protested Islam in the wake of the London Bridge, Westminster and Manchester Arena terrorist attacks.
28 January 2025 Press Office
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 ArticlesChristian teaching assistant WINS £7,000 settlement after sacking for street preaching
A Christian teaching assistant has won an £7,000 legal settlement from a school in Leeds after he was sacked for street preaching in his spare time.
11 January 2024 Press Office