Controversial activist Tommy Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been vindicated in court after being cleared of breaching a dispersal order during an antisemitism march last November. The ruling came as a senior Met Police officer admitted legal flaws in the order’s authorization, leading to Robinson’s acquittal by District Judge Daniel Sternberg at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The incident unfolded as Robinson attended the demonstration in central London following the Israel-Hamas conflict. Despite being warned by organizers that his presence was unwelcome, Robinson proceeded to take part in the protest, which sparked tensions due to the potential attendance of a ‘right-wing group’ as identified by Inspector Steve Parker-Phipps.
Inspector Parker-Phipps invoked a Section 35 order under the Crime and Policing Act 2014 to mitigate possible disruptions, wrongly dating the authorization form for November 24 instead of the actual date, November 26. This oversight led to a series of legal mishaps highlighted during the trial by Robinson’s defense lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC.
Amidst a courtroom filled with supporters, Robinson’s lawyer cast doubt on the legitimacy of the order, questioning the inspector’s actions. Following revelations of procedural errors and the improper documentation, the judge ruled in Robinson’s favor, declaring no case to answer and hence freeing him from the charges.
The aftermath of Robinson’s arrest, where he was sprayed with synthetic pepper spray and detained, resonated online as he shared his perspective on social media, claiming to have been present as a journalist covering the event. Despite the commotion, the Met Police spokesperson assured a review of the incident to rectify the procedural lapses and enhance policing strategies amidst escalating public order challenges in recent times.
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