A constabulary unit was past nighttime accused of 'trampling' implicit ideology aft detectives allegedly enactment unit connected a section Tory enactment to unseat a workfellow wrongly accused of a hatred crime.
Anthony Stevens, a Conservative councillor successful Northamptonshire, was arrested past twelvemonth aft posting an representation from a video – archetypal revealed by The Mail connected Sunday – of a Christian preacher having his book wrested disconnected him by constabulary successful the street.
The begetter of 2 was held for 9 hours, during which helium was besides quizzed astir his online enactment of different person who criticised cheery pridefulness events. Mr Stevens, 51, a subordinate of Wellingborough Town Council, was released and aboriginal told that nary further enactment would beryllium taken against him.
But the MoS tin present uncover that days earlier Mr Stevens was arrested, a Northamptonshire Police detective phoned Jonathan Ekins, a erstwhile section Tory politician for Wellingborough, and allegedly told him Mr Stevens should beryllium 'removed' arsenic a councillor due to the fact that of his views.
In a connection to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Mr Ekins said Detective Constable Amelia Thompson told him Mr Stevens was astir to beryllium arrested 'for a superior offence'.
Anthony Stevens, a Conservative councillor successful Northamptonshire, was arrested past twelvemonth aft posting an representation from a video – archetypal revealed by The Mail connected Sunday – of a Christian preacher having his book wrested disconnected him by constabulary successful the street
Andrea Williams, of the Christian Legal Centre, who is representing Mr Stevens, said: 'What happened undermined and trampled connected our law, ideology and freedoms connected each level'
'She said successful their sentiment the constabulary felt that helium was not a acceptable idiosyncratic to beryllium a councillor,' helium said. 'DC Thompson said Anthony Stevens should beryllium removed from being a councillor.'
It is claimed that successful a aboriginal call, DC Thompson told him constabulary had learnt Mr Stevens had attended a gathering astatine the aforesaid clip arsenic a Labour councillor thought to person complained astir his tweets.
This, she said, was a breach of his bail conditions and she warned him officers would apprehension Mr Stevens 'on the spot' if helium turned up astatine different gathering attended by the Labour councillor.
Mr Ekins said: 'My effect was, rightly, to punctual DC Thompson that she would beryllium invited to effort but that, arsenic seat of the committee, I person the close to … instruct information officials to region the constabulary for nationalist disruption of a democratically constituted meeting.' The enactment has prompted accusations of governmental interference by police.
Andrea Williams, of the Christian Legal Centre, who is representing Mr Stevens, said: 'What happened undermined and trampled connected our law, ideology and freedoms connected each level.'
Mr Stevens, a spot developer, was arrested past August and quizzed astir tweets from his account, which had 76 followers. One progressive a video showing however constabulary had treated Christian preacher Oluwole Ilesanmi (pictured) successful Southgate, North London, successful 2019
Mr Stevens, a begetter of two, was held for 9 hours, during which helium was besides quizzed astir his online enactment of different person who criticised cheery pridefulness events
Mr Stevens, a spot developer, was arrested past August and quizzed astir tweets from his account, which had 76 followers.
One progressive a video showing however constabulary had treated Christian preacher Oluwole Ilesanmi successful Southgate, North London, successful 2019.
An serviceman snatched Mr Ilesanmi's book aft the preacher was accused of being Islamophobic. Mr Stevens was besides quizzed astir tweeting enactment for councillor King Lawal, suspended by his Tory radical aft helium responded to images of Pride parades by writing: 'Pride is not a virtuousness but a sin.'
A 3rd tweet shared by Mr Stevens, and raised by police, progressive a clip of a antheral burning a transcript of the Koran with the proposition helium should beryllium escaped to bash so.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped the lawsuit 4 months aboriginal but helium remains suspended by the Tory party. Last nighttime Mr Stevens said: 'I don't deliberation radical realise what it's similar to beryllium taken from your location astatine 8am successful beforehand of your woman and kids, held successful a constabulary presumption and called a racist.'
The MoS understands his IOPC ailment was referred to Northamptonshire Police's Professional Standards Department. The unit said: 'This probe is taxable to a unrecorded complaint... we are incapable to remark further.'
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