Met officer admits dispersal order 'breached by Tommy Robinson at march against anti

Release time：2024-05-21 15:46:12 Source：Stellar Stories news portal

A senior Metropolitan Police officer who signed a dispersal order allegedly breached by Tommy Robinson has admitted it may not have been lawful after he put the wrong date on the paperwork when he was laptop was 'dying', a court has heard. 

The former English Defence League (EDL) leader, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of failing to comply with a direction to leave an area in Westminster on November 26 last year.

Inspector Steve Parker-Phipps, responsible for policing certain aspects of the protest, imposed a Section 35 order under the Crime and Policing Act 2014 when he thought a 'right-wing group' could potentially be attending, the trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court heard.

The court heard Inspector Parker-Phipps, whose laptop battery was 'dying', put the order in place at 10am on November 26, but accidentally dated the form for November 24.

The march was the first of its kind since the Israel-Gaza conflict began, with an estimated 100,000 people in attendance. 

Tommy Robinson, 41, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of failing to comply with a direction to leave an area in Westminster on November 26 last year

The 41-year-old had previously denied the charge at his first court appearance on January 22

Questioning the inspector, Robinson's defence lawyer Alisdair Williamson KC said: 'This document is not correct is it?

'Can we have any confidence that there was a lawful order in place?'

The officer replied: 'No.'

Robinson was arrested near the Royal Courts of Justice in London, from where the demonstration started, after organisers said he would not be welcome at the event.

The 41-year-old had previously denied the charge at his first court appearance on January 22. 

Arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, Robinson was seen broadcasting for his 'Urban Scoop' platform as he held a microphone and attempted to interview journalists outside the building. 

Prosecutor Jonathan Bryan told the court Robinson 'became resistant' when ordered to leave the area and was arrested.

'Organisers of the protest had made it clear they didn't want his presence,' Mr Bryan said.

'He wouldn't leave the area.'

During his arrest, officers sprayed Robinson with synthetic pepper spray and handcuffed him.

He uploaded a video of himself with partially closed eyes to social media after the confrontation.

Other footage of him arguing with police officers was also posted on his Twitter/X account, with Robinson claiming to be present as a journalist at the march.

Robinson arrives for trial at Westminster Magistrates' Court today after he was arrested when asked to leave a rally against antisemitism

Robinson (pictured outside court today) was arrested near the Royal Courts of Justice in London, from where the demonstration started, after organisers said he would not be welcome at the event

In January, Robinson denied the charge of one count of failing to comply with a dispersal order. 

Alistair Williamson KC, defending, made an last-minute application to the court to prevent the publication of Robinson's address. 

He said that his client had been subject to 12 police visits where he was warned of threats to his life, known as Osman warnings. 

Judge Briony Clark refused the application. 

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