Officers Believed Tommy Robinson Possessed Terrorist Information on Phone, Court Hears.
Legal representatives informed the court that police maintained valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's mobile contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.
Refusal to Give Phone Password
The far-right activist, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly declined to provide his phone pin to officers, stating it included “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.
Trial Claims on Counter-Terrorism Powers
On the last day of the trial, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers used by police are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She asserted that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe Robinson continued to have connections to far-right activists, even following the dissolution of the EDL organization.
While his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not disappeared. He is known for having those views and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there could be data pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.
Morris added, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their attention on July 28. It was his connection to individuals who are potentially engaged in illegal actions.”
Details of the Stop
The campaigner had turned up alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.
The funds was said to have been from a collection to cover costs from arranging a large demonstration that occurred the previous day in a London landmark.
Defense Arguments
Robinson, who denies failing to comply with anti-terror laws during the encounter on July 28 last year, faces up to 90 days in prison or a possible £2,500 fine if convicted.
His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped his client had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.
Referring to evidence from officers who said they contacted other organizations” after detaining Robinson, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to suggest his defendant was a security threat.
He said the police action was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.
He added that police had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was already known. The barrister suggested that his client journeyed to the resort regularly, which ought to have reduced the officers’ concerns about him.
Legal Costs and Judgment Date
Robinson stated that his legal costs in the proceedings were being covered by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has appeared as an supporter of the campaigner and recently spoke at a gathering arranged by him in London via a livestream.
A suggested day of the following Tuesday for the decision was changed by the district judge, the judge, after the defense explained his client 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 announced he would hand down his verdict on the start of 4 November.