Breaking Case News: Victory as CPS drops case against street preacher
The Crown Prosecution Service has dropped the
case against a Christian street preacher who was arrested under "hate crime"
legislation whilst preaching in Liverpool City
Centre.Complaint
Alex Peverely was preaching on a number of different issues, including same-sex 'marriage', when he was approached by an employee of the nearby Playhouse Theatre. The employee asked him to reduce the volume, claiming that the theatre had received a complaint from a customer.
Shortly after the conversation, Alex was approached by two uniformed police officers who had been informed that a “hate” crime had been committed by a man “shouting homophobic abuse.”
Detained illegally
During the course of the conversation, the officers detained Alex illegally saying that he had breached section 5 of the Public Order Act. Alex requested to leave on a number of occasions, however, the officers refused to let him go. When Alex refused to provide his name, he was arrested and bundled into the back of a police car and taken to St Anne’s police station.
Held in custody
During his stay in custody for approximately six hours, Alex was interviewed by two police officers (including a detective sergeant) and explained:
“I came into the city centre today in order to share the Good news. I am under an obligation to preach truth – the love and the mercy of God and sin. It is a two fold message – they are in their sins, but Christ is the way forward. He is the way forward if they want to be saved.”
Today, Alex has been told by the police that the CPS has decided not to prosecute him as it is not considered to be ‘in the public interest’. He was supported by allied lawyer to the Christian Legal Centre, Michael Phillips.
Andrea Williams of the Christian Legal Centre said: "This is another victory for the freedom to preach the Gospel. At the Christian Legal Centre, we will continue to fight every case where preachers have been arrested for simply preaching the Good News of Jesus." Christian Concern.
