IN a second similar case in recent days, a Christian street preacher has won 7,000 UK pounds in addition to costs from police in settlement for a claim of wrongful arrest, unlawful imprisonment and breach of his human rights.
According to the Christian Institute, Dale Mcalpine (42) brought the case against the Cumbria police following his arrest on April 20 this year. On their part, the police have accepted that they acted unlawfully.
The Christian Institute, a UK group that protects the civil liberty of Christians, had funded the case Mcalpine’s case.
On December 8, the Birmingham County Court had ruled that West Midlands police acted unlawfully when they arrested, handcuffed and detained street preacher Anthony Rollins.
The court awarded Rollins 4,255 UK pounds and ordered the police to pay his legal costs.
Mcalpine was preaching from the Bible in Workington town centre on April 20, 2010. Though his sermon did not contain any mention of homosexuality, as soon as he finished his message, Police Community Support Officer Sam Adams, who identified himself as an ‘LBGT Liaison Officer’, warned Mcalpine that he could be arrested if he made homophobic remarks.
He was later arrested and detained for 7 hours and 46 minutes.
