Summary
- Former police officer Harry Miller wins legal victory after police investigated his “thinking” for sending a Tweet
- Court of Appeal rules police recording of “non-crime hate incidents” on national database to be “unlawful”
LONDON (20 December 2021) – The following statement may be attributed to Ryan Christopher, Director of ADF UK:
“ADF UK warmly welcomes the landmark ruling from the Court of Appeal that today upheld Harry Miller’s right to free speech. We were delighted to have supported this case, because nobody should be subjected to having a “non-crime hate incident” recorded on their record simply for expressing their opinion.
Harry was visited by police officers who purported to “check his thinking” and subsequently recorded him as having committed a “non-crime hate incident”, simply for tweeting a joke. Such police practices have a chilling effect on free speech in society that inhibits free and fair dialogue. The Court has recognised that recording of non-crime hate incidents violate Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of expression for all people.
We hope that this case will represent a turning point for free speech in the UK. Here in Britain and across Europe, we are committed to supporting the free expression of all people. Later this month, Finish MP Päivi Räsänen will face criminal trial for her own tweet – that of a Bible verse. We hope that her case will follow in the footsteps of Harry to fortify the value of free speech and open dialogue in a democratic society.”
To find out more about Päivi Räsänen’s case, visit www.adfinternational.org/paivi.
Meet the charity volunteer arrested and charged for a silent prayer “thought crime” near an abortion facility.
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Meet the charity worker arrested and charged on four counts for silent prayer “thought crime” near an abortion facility.
In November 2022, Police approached Isabel Vaughan-Spruce standing near the BPAS Robert Clinic in Kings Norton, Birmingham.
Vaughan-Spruce was not protesting. She wasn’t carrying a sign or engaging with anyone. She was completely silent, until approached by officers who had received complaints that she may be praying silently in her mind.
While harassment is already illegal, the censorship zone measure introduced by Birmingham authorities criminalises individuals perceived to be “engaging in any act of approval or disapproval or attempted act of approval or disapproval” in relation to abortion, including through “verbal or written means, prayer or counselling…”
Isabel’s physical presence in the public space protection order (PSPO) area wasn’t a crime in itself; it was the contents of her private thoughts that were prohibited. If Isabel had stood in the same place thinking about another topic, she would not have been arrested.
Isabel is currently out on bail, with police-imposed restrictions including engaging in public prayer, even beyond the PSPO area, stating that this is necessary to prevent further offences.
Isabel is the Director of the UK March for Life and has volunteered for many years in support of women in crisis pregnancies. She has tirelessly served her community by providing charitable assistance to vulnerable women and children, and yet, she is being treated no better than a violent criminal because of her private thoughts.
#Censored
Whether it be for sharing deeply held beliefs relating to matters of ethical, political or religious debate, our public order laws have been too often used to falsely arrest or threaten arrest people for their expression in the streets. We believe that the law needs reform so that a reasonable balance is struck between upholding the right to freedom of expression and maintining public order.
By writing to your Member of Parliament, you ask him to sign a Freedom of Speech motion in Parliament. The more signatures the motion obtains, the stronger the message for Government.
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