The police have acknowledged acting unlawfully in the arrest of a trainee Baptist minister who voiced opposition to the proclamation of King Charles III’s accession. Symon Hill, 47, received £2,500 in compensation from the Thames Valley police for his arrest in September 2022.
Hill was returning home from church when he encountered a procession proclaiming King Charles. He inquired how to avoid the crowds and mentioned his disagreement with an unelected head of state. The officers became defensive, and upon the proclamation of King Charles, Hill spoke out, “Who elected him?” Security guards and police officers stepped in to silence him.
Police body-worn camera footage revealed officers discussing the potential of fines or de-arrest due to expected complaints. Hill was later charged under the Public Order Act for threatening or abusive words or behavior, but the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the charges on January 5, 2023, due to insufficient evidence.
Hill, who is a chaplain at Aston University, expressed surprise at the two-and-a-half-year ordeal and believes the case highlights the importance of the right to dissent and freedom of expression in public spaces. The National Council for Civil Liberties supported him in his legal action.
Katy Watts, a lawyer at Liberty, argued that a functioning democracy relies on the freedom to voice different opinions in public spaces and called for a review of anti-protest laws to protect freedom of expression.
Thames Valley police’s deputy chief constable, Ben Snuggs, acknowledged the settlement with Hill and acknowledged that the police must learn from this incident to inform their future public order and public safety operations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/11/police-admit-arrest-of-anti-monarchy-heckler-in-oxford-was-unlawful
