Don't arrest street preachers who say homosexuality is a sin, police told
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police is being asked to take steps to ensure officers do not arrest street preachers who call homosexuality a sin. The appeal from Christian Legal Centre (CLC) follows the arrest this month of Tony Miano in Wimbledon after police received a complaint of homophobia from a member of the public who reportedly told him to "f*** off". Miano, from the US, had been preaching on sexual immorality from 1 Thessalonians 4: 1 - 2 at the time. He was arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 and taken to the police station where he was interviewed and fingerprinted. After seven hours, he was released without any further action being taken. The CLC said some officers were wrongly using their powers to intimidate or silence Christians who have spoken of homosexuality as a sin, and that arrests on similar grounds may become more common following the legalisation of gay marriage. In its letter to the police chief, CLC said guidance need...