A Christian avenue preacher was confronted by 5 cops in London following a criticism from a member of the general public.
Footage of the incident in Uxbridge Excessive Road, west London, was uploaded to YouTube by the Contagious Christian channel.
It reveals a preacher threatened with arrest after allegedly committing a hate crime by making homophobic feedback.
The preacher filming the incident will be heard telling the officers, “All we do is preach our faith. We preached in regards to the gospel and Jesus Christ.” [and what] The Bible says within the e book of John, chapter three, verse 16.
“For God's love for the world, he gave his solely son, in order that whoever, whoever – gay, drunkard, liar or prostitute – believes in him is not going to perish and have everlasting life.”
In the course of the change, one of many officers will be heard saying: “There may be at the moment a cost of a hate crime, a public order offense part 4a [and] accusations of homophobia.
“I didn't hear something, I'm not saying I heard something. Somebody known as us. It might be fully false or it might be true… [but] If I’m going out and see the offenses and the sufferer needs to press expenses … I could have let the potential sufferer down.”
When the preacher asks for an evidence, one other officer tells him the cost pertains to a possible hate crime that precipitated “alarm or misery in a public place.”
The preacher faces arrest if he doesn’t agree to offer his identify and deal with.
“You may spend the night time in a cell and we will do it,” says one of many officers.
They appear to let him go after he provides his particulars.
Feedback posted on YouTube accused the police of double requirements after they have been accused of doing nothing when protesters in London known as for jihad following the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel.
“That is completely weird. Islamists can name for jihad within the streets of London however dare not preach about Jesus?” mentioned one individual.
One other wrote: “No surprise the nation is within the state it’s in proper now. Harassing preachers as an alternative of stopping actual crime.”
Final month, the Metropolitan Police got here below fireplace after a volunteer officer wrongly advised a Christian singer performing in London's Oxford Road that she was not allowed to sing church songs exterior church grounds.
The officer threatened to remove Harmonie London's tools and caught his tongue out at her when she defended her proper to sing songs.
The Met later apologized for the offense precipitated.