Post by Michael on Dec 13, 2010 10:06:06 GMT -5
Birmingham street preacher wins damages from police over wrongful arrest
Dec 13 2010 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail
POLICE are considering an appeal after being ordered to pay more than £4,000 compensation to a street preacher accused of offending lesbians and gays in a Birmingham street sermon.
Devout Tony Rollins, aged 45, was arrested by police in June 2008 after complaints were made about the sermon he was delivering on New Street in the city centre.
Mr Rollins had been quoting passages from the King James Bible on the subject of the “effeminate” as he preached.
He was charged with a public order offence, handcuffed and held in a cell for nearly four hours after a passer-by dialled 999 and complained his language was “hugely offensive”.
But the case was later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Now a judge at Birmingham County Court has ordered West Midlands Police to pay £4,250 in damages after ruling the arrest and detention of Mr Rollins was not lawful.
It was ruled the words he used were not offensive and he was not in breach of the Public Order Act.
Mr Rollins welcomed the judgement as “excellent news”.
He said: “I didn’t do this for the compensation. I did it for freedom of speech.”
Mr Rollins has been preaching in Birmingham for 12 years.
One of the passages he quoted from that day condemns the “unrighteous”, including “fornicators, idolaters, adulterers and the effeminate”.
Mr Rollins’ action was backed by the Christian Institute think tank. Spokesman Mike Judge said: “Street preachers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is part of our Christian heritage.
“Whether you agree with Mr Rollins’ beliefs or not, surely we all value free speech?
“Christians are tired of being put on trial for their beliefs. The police have no business arresting Christians for quoting the Bible.”
But West Midlands Police was given leave to appeal the decision by the judge.
A force spokesman said: “We acknowledge the court’s result and we are currently considering whether we will be appealing.”
Also see:-
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337292/Payout-anti-gay-preacher-Anthony-Rollins-Landmark-ruling-free-speech-battle.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Dec 13 2010 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail
POLICE are considering an appeal after being ordered to pay more than £4,000 compensation to a street preacher accused of offending lesbians and gays in a Birmingham street sermon.
Devout Tony Rollins, aged 45, was arrested by police in June 2008 after complaints were made about the sermon he was delivering on New Street in the city centre.
Mr Rollins had been quoting passages from the King James Bible on the subject of the “effeminate” as he preached.
He was charged with a public order offence, handcuffed and held in a cell for nearly four hours after a passer-by dialled 999 and complained his language was “hugely offensive”.
But the case was later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Now a judge at Birmingham County Court has ordered West Midlands Police to pay £4,250 in damages after ruling the arrest and detention of Mr Rollins was not lawful.
It was ruled the words he used were not offensive and he was not in breach of the Public Order Act.
Mr Rollins welcomed the judgement as “excellent news”.
He said: “I didn’t do this for the compensation. I did it for freedom of speech.”
Mr Rollins has been preaching in Birmingham for 12 years.
One of the passages he quoted from that day condemns the “unrighteous”, including “fornicators, idolaters, adulterers and the effeminate”.
Mr Rollins’ action was backed by the Christian Institute think tank. Spokesman Mike Judge said: “Street preachers may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is part of our Christian heritage.
“Whether you agree with Mr Rollins’ beliefs or not, surely we all value free speech?
“Christians are tired of being put on trial for their beliefs. The police have no business arresting Christians for quoting the Bible.”
But West Midlands Police was given leave to appeal the decision by the judge.
A force spokesman said: “We acknowledge the court’s result and we are currently considering whether we will be appealing.”
Also see:-
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337292/Payout-anti-gay-preacher-Anthony-Rollins-Landmark-ruling-free-speech-battle.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
