Street Preacher to Sue London Police After Judge Throws out Hate Speech Case

The New Scotland Yard logo is displayed on a revolving sign outside the Curtis Green Building, the new home of the Metropolitan Police in London, England, on Feb. 22, 2017. (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

A woman who was dragged through a London court for alleged “hate speech” in her street preaching says she will sue the Metropolitan police after the judge ruled there was no case to answer.

Hazel Lewis, 49, was arrested outside Finsbury Park tube station in North London, where she had been preaching, on 12 February 2020.

Initially, three people accused her of saying homosexuals and non-believers should be stabbed, resulting in her arrest on suspicion of racist and homophobic abuse under Section 4 of the Public Order Act.

When her claim of innocence was vindicated at the station by an audio recording, the police instead charged her with breaching of Section 5 of the Public Order Act, accusing her of causing harassment, alarm, and distress.

Lewis initially refused legal representation as she was so sure of her innocence, but was later supported by the Christian Legal Centre, the legal arm of Christian Concern.

She is now intending to launch legal action against the police, according to a statement by Christian Concern.

Andrea Williams chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said in a statement, “Since the turn of the century we have seen a concerning escalation in street preacher arrests despite strong legal precedents being set in defence of their freedoms.”

“It is chilling that one false accusation to the police can see a woman preaching on her own handcuffed, arrested, and prosecuted.”

“The police were determined to charge her no matter what the evidence, and we are relieved that the courts have seen through it.”

The Met police said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times:

“On 12 February 2020, Ms. Lewis was charged with using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, and distress to another person. This charge did not relate to homophobic or racist language.

“She was charged after a Penalty Notice for Disorder was refused.”

The Met said that they had not yet received any legal claim against them.

The judge, Julia Newton, said her judgement was that there was “no case to answer” against charges of causing harassment, alarm, and distress.

“The defendant is alleged to have said, ‘you are an advocate of Satan and I rebuke you in Jesus’ name.’ I don’t find those words threatening. These words were certainly disagreed with. I do not find that they were abusive either.”

“Further, in relation to distress. It is clear that [a witness] was disturbed and found them to be unpleasant. She said that other people were distressed. She said that she was distressed and found these words were unpleasant. However, that does not amount to harassment, alarm or distress.”

Lewis said in a statement that street preachers like herself are “easy targets for the police.”

“Too many of us are unlawfully being fined, arrested, and prosecuted instead of receiving the equal protection and support all law-abiding citizens are entitled to and should be confident in expecting.”

“I am concerned [about] what would have happened to me if I did not have the audio recording.”