Street preacher challenges police injunction in court

UK police department Avon and Somerset Police, are seeking restriction on Christian street preacher Mike Overd claiming he 'puts lives at risk' On Monday 5 October Avon and Somerset Police will argue at a High Court hearing that a Mike could cause “significant risk or harm to others”. The application for an injunction, made under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 accuses Mr Mike Overd of repeatedly ‘engaging in anti-social behaviour’ while preaching from the Bible in Taunton. If granted, an order would threaten Mr Overd with arrest, imprisonment, and contempt of court were he to disobey the six orders in the injunction. The Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Mr Overd, says the Act is being increasingly used by police to suppress legitimate freedom of speech. Mr Overd said the injunction was “the latest in a long line of attempts to strip me of my freedom to preach from the Bible on the streets of Somerset.”