Street Preacher in England Wins Wrongful Arrest Settlement against Police

“A street preacher in the U.K. has been awarded £13,000 ($21,664) by the local police after he was arrested for preaching against homosexuality in September 2011. The Greater Manchester Police Department recently reached a settlement out of court with John Craven, a 57-year-old street preacher who frequented Market Street in Manchester, U.K., twice a week in 2011, where he would preach the Bible to passersby. In one incident on September 17, 2011, Craven was reportedly preaching on Market Street when two young gay men asked what his thoughts on same-sex marriage were. The preacher reportedly responded, ‘Whilst God hates sin He loves the sinner.’ According to Craven's report of the incident, the two young men then reportedly began to taunt him by kissing in front of him and mimicking suggestive acts. They then reported Craven to a local police constable and the preacher was arrested for ‘public order offenses.’ The preacher was then reportedly kept in a holding cell for 15 hours without food or water. Additionally, the preacher was reportedly denied his medication for rheumatoid arthritis after multiple requests. He was eventually given a bowl of cereal and a microwave meal after a friend complained. The Manchester Police Department paid a total of £50,000 in legal fees and compensation. ... Colin Hart, director of the Christian Institute, the group that funded Craven's case, called the police department’s actions ‘disgraceful.’”

(“Street Preacher,” Christian Post, April 1, 2014)

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