🔗 Share this article

Legal representatives informed the court that police had reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's mobile held material related to terrorist activities when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Denial to Give Phone Pin

The far-right activist, using his real name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly declined to provide his password to police, claiming it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Claims on Anti-Terror Authority

On the last day of the trial, state lawyer Jo Morris stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by law enforcement are designed to allow information collection. She asserted that officers had valid grounds to believe Robinson continued to have connections to far-right activists, even following the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for having those views and therefore it is a valid concern to think that on his telephone there may be information relevant to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

Morris added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his association to others who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Details of the Stop

The campaigner had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the trial heard.

The money was reportedly from a collection to offset expenses from organizing a major rally that took place the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Defense Submissions

The defendant, who denies non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the incident on July 28 last year, could receive up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Citing testimony from officers who said they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining him, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to indicate his client was a terrorist.

He said the police action was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was previously available. Williamson suggested that his client traveled to Benidorm frequently, which ought to have lessened the police suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Date

The activist claimed that his court expenses in the case were being covered by Elon Musk, the owner of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the far-right activist and recently spoke at a rally organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained Robinson was due to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from the midweek and would not return until October 25.

{“I wouldn’t trouble you if this was a trip to Benidorm. I would ask him to rearrange it but he is a guest of a foreign government,” said the barrister.

Goozee said he would deliver his verdict on the morning of 4 November.