🔗 Share this article

Prosecutors told the court that law enforcement maintained valid concerns indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him last year as he attempted to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Device Password

The right-wing campaigner, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly refused to hand over his password to officers, stating it included “journalistic material.” This happened after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the last day of the proceedings, prosecutor the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are designed to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to believe the defendant still have links to right-wing groups, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his membership of the EDL has ceased, his views have not disappeared. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his phone there may be information pertaining to terrorist acts,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

The prosecutor added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their concern on July 28. It was his association to individuals who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had arrived alone at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of Benidorm with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial was told.

The money was said to have been from a donation drive to cover expenses from arranging a major rally that occurred the day before in Trafalgar Square.

Legal Team Submissions

The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the encounter on July 28 last year, could receive up to 90 days in jail or a potential £2,500 fine if found guilty.

His lawyer, defense counsel, argued in closing submissions that counter-terrorism police who stopped his client had engaged in a speculative search” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Referring to evidence from police who said they contacted other organizations” after arresting Robinson, Williamson said this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been offered from MI5 to indicate his client was a terrorist.

He said the police action was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a protected characteristic.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to detain him was recognizing his identity”.

He noted that officers had used an special authority that needs to be carefully regulated” to try to discover details that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort regularly, which should have lessened the police concerns about him.

Legal Costs and Judgment Timing

Robinson stated that his court expenses in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an supporter of the campaigner and lately addressed a rally arranged by him in London via a online broadcast.

A suggested day of next Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson said his client was due to be a invitee of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not come back 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.