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Avon and Somerset Police Drop Hate-Crime Probe Into Bristol Street Preacher

The decision intensifies scrutiny of how police apply hate-crime laws to street preaching.

Overview

  • Police told Pastor Dia Moodley they will take no further action, closing a case opened after his November 2025 arrest in Bristol city centre.
  • Officers had arrested him on suspicion of a religiously aggravated public order offence and assault by beating under Section 4A, a law that targets threatening or abusive conduct intended to stir up hatred.
  • Moodley was held for eight hours and released on bail that initially barred him from Bristol’s city centre, a condition later lifted after representations by his lawyers.
  • During an April 4 sermon he reported a recorded verbal threat from a bystander, which police later said did not constitute an offence due to insufficient evidence.
  • Moodley calls the outcome a win for free speech and is weighing legal action, while ADF urges repeal of what it calls censorial laws and pushes a Free Speech Bill after earlier probes in 2024 were also dropped and U.S. officials took notice.