🔗 Share this article

Legal representatives told the tribunal that law enforcement had reasonable suspicions that Tommy Robinson's mobile held material relevant to acts of terrorism when they stopped him in the previous year as he tried to leave the UK.

Denial to Give Phone Password

The far-right activist, whose real name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to provide his phone pin to officers, stating it included journalist content.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on 28 July 2024.

Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor the prosecution argued that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are designed to allow intelligence gathering. She asserted that police had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant continued to have links to right-wing groups, even after the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his affiliation of the EDL has come to an end, his beliefs have not gone away. He is known for holding those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be information relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their attention on 28 July. It was his connection to individuals who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The activist had arrived by himself at the Eurotunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the holiday destination of Benidorm with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court was told.

The money was reportedly from a collection to offset costs from arranging a large demonstration that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

The defendant, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to 90 days in jail or a possible £2,500 fine if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to evidence from officers who said they called other organizations” after detaining Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

He asserted the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that police had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was previously available. Williamson proposed that his client traveled to the resort frequently, which should have lessened the officers’ suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Timing

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the campaigner and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A suggested day of next Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after the defense explained his client was due to be a guest of the Israeli government from Wednesday and would not return until 25 October.

{“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,” stated Williamson.

Goozee announced he would hand down his verdict on the start of 4 November.