Comments on: Silly cult summons makes asses of the police

By: The Freethinker › It’s OK to use the C-word to describe Scientology in Scotland

Thu, 29 May 2008 06:06:14 +0000

[...] decision follows the barmy police action taken at the beginning of May against a young anti-Scientology protestor in London, who was served [...]

By: Ed Haz

Ed Haz — Sun, 25 May 2008 00:50:12 +0000

@ ZombieHunter

The relevant section of the Public order act is section 5. Part 1 is quoted below:

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he—

(a) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or

(b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,

within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.

Obviously it’s part (b) we’re looking at. Basically, it was coppers on the beat at the time who thought this lad could be prosecuted under this law, and in fact, has nothing to do with ‘incitement to religious hatred’.

Basically, don’t wave abusive signs in front of anyone… not just religious nutjobs/cultists! You could get done!

By: Valdemar

Valdemar — Sat, 24 May 2008 10:41:45 +0000

Excellent news! I’m so pleased this lad stood up for his convictions, for free speech, and for reason against bigotry and lies. There is hope for us after all - young people today, or some of them, are made of the right stuff.

By: ZombieHunter

ZombieHunter — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:50:09 +0000

Good to see that common sense prevailled though to be perfectly honest if there was any common sense left in this country this case would never ave come up in the first place.

“The summons was issued under the Public Order Act on the grounds that the sign incited religious hatred”

I could be wrong here but scientology isn’t recognised as a religion in this country so how could he have been prosecuted under religious hatred laws??