David Vance SubstackRead More
Whether you love him or loathe him, Tommy Robinson is a man that the British State wants to keep persecuting! He is back in court – this time on a terrorism charge!
His alleged crime – he would not give police his mobile phone PIN! Yes, really.
Tommy Robinson has said that he refused to give police his mobile phone Pin when he was stopped at the entry to the Channel Tunnel because it had “journalist material” on it, a court has heard.
He was charged under the Terrorism Act after allegedly failing to comply with the counter-terrorism powers in Folkestone in July 2024. He is on trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court and has pleaded not guilty.
A person who is detained under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act is legally obliged to provide the password or Pin for electronic devices. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to three months and/or receive a £2,500 fine. Robinson’s trial began yesterday and is expected to last two days.
It seems to me that before getting into the ins and out of this live case, which could be deemed prejudicial, there are a few broad points that I can make and which you may agree with!
For starters, you might reasonably think that the prerequisite for being charged with terrorism is ….erm…some sort of reasonable suspicion of being a terrorist. When a person is charged under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, it must surely be under the presumption of planning or participating in terrorism? To just use this as a pretext to pressurise any individual is wrong!
Next up, journalists have an obligation to protect their sources. If this is broken by them being forced to reveal who they have been speaking to and what was being discussed, then surely this severs any trust with journalism? In turn that is more likely to suppress the truth!
As for Tommy Robinson, he has been in court at least several dozen times since 2004, with major legal events occurring almost every year since then. These proceedings include both criminal cases and civil matters. His court appearances have involved a mix of custodial sentences, orders, injunctions, fines, and public trials, making him one of the most litigated political figures in the UK in recent decades. I think he could make a good case for being Public Enemy Number One. The first time I spoke to him was back in 2015 when he has just brought out his book “Enemy of the State” and over the years, I have had a few interactions with him and I found him to a well intentioned man. Others may judge him more harshly but I go on my own experiences.
It seems an indisputable fact that he is being targeted by the State and the sword of Damocles is never far from his head which in of itself is a stress. As is often said, the process IS the punishment. It seems that Elon Musk is backing him and covering his legal costs for this case, which must be a comfort.
