Sleeper v Comr of Police of the Metropolis

Subject Matter

CRIME — Public order — Harassment, alarm or distress — Whether offence requiring imminent risk to public order — Relevance of risk to determining liability — Public Order Act 1986 (c 64), s 5

[2025] EWHC 151 (KB); [2025] 2 Cr App R 18, KBD

HUMAN RIGHTS — Liberty — Deprivation of — Claimant street evangelist displaying sign calling on people reading it to hate Islam but to love Muslims — Police arresting claimant for public order offence of displaying sign likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress — Whether arresting officer having lawful basis for arrest — Human Rights Act (c 42), s 6, Sch 1, Pt I, arts 9, 10, 11

[2025] EWHC 151 (KB); [2025] 2 Cr App R 18, KBD

Commentary

Law & Religion UK
Street preaching: hate speech vs freedom of expression: Sleeper Case comment

UK Human Rights Blog
Preaching hate: free speech, religion and the Human Rights Act Case comment