Tommy Robinson has recently faced charges for failing to provide the pin to his mobile phone under the Terrorism Act. The incident took place in Folkestone on Sunday, July 28, when he was stopped by officers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Robinson visited Folkestone Police Station on Friday in anticipation of his arrest ahead of a planned march in London, where his supporters were expected to demonstrate and be met with a counter-protest organized by Stand Up to Racism.
Kent Police initially stated that Robinson had been bailed in connection to the terror offense, but later confirmed that he had been remanded in relation to his ongoing High Court contempt case scheduled to be heard on Monday. Robinson’s Twitter account shared an update explaining that he was remanded into prison for refusing to provide the code to his phone, which reportedly contained information about child rape victims considered confidential journalistic sources.
The reasons behind the demand for Robinson to surrender himself remain unclear, but this recent incident follows his arrest in July at a Kent port, where he was accused of impeding police counter-terrorism powers. Additionally, Robinson is facing potential jail time for breaching a 2021 High Court order that prohibited him from making defamatory claims against a Syrian refugee who had previously sued him successfully.
One of the alleged breaches of the injunction includes the airing of a film titled “Silenced” at a protest in Trafalgar Square in July. This action, along with five others, is said to have violated the court order between June and July of this year. Robinson is scheduled to appear at Woolwich Crown Court for a two-day hearing regarding the contempt of court allegations.
Despite being released on unconditional bail in July, Robinson left the country shortly after. The Solicitor General’s representative informed the High Court that there were no restrictions preventing him from doing so. Justice Johnson issued a warrant for Robinson’s arrest, to be executed in early October to allow him time to voluntarily attend the next hearing or apply to set aside the warrant.
Robinson’s legal troubles continue to escalate, and his refusal to comply with the authorities regarding his phone’s access code may have serious implications for his ongoing legal battles. The situation surrounding his actions and the potential consequences he faces highlight the complexities of balancing freedom of speech with legal responsibilities. As the controversy surrounding Robinson unfolds, it raises questions about the limits of activism and the accountability of individuals in the public eye.