A council in Hampshire has agreed to withdraw attempts to impose a court injunction restricting Christian street preaching and other activities in public spaces.
The injunction would have restricted street preaching, religious discussions, prayer, singing and distributing leaflets.
Rushmoor Borough Council backed down after a powerful backlash from local Christian groups, faith leaders and Conservative councillors who argued that the measures were a serious infringement on religious freedom and free speech.
The council said the steps were obligatory to forestall “anti-social behaviour by a small number of people” in Aldershot and Farnborough, and address complaints from members of the general public who had apparently experienced alarm and distress.
Local street preachers criticised the council for failing to seek the advice of with them and accused it of ignoring the positive social impact of their outreach, especially amongst homeless and other vulnerable people.
They were supported by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which said that the restrictions would have set a dangerous precedent and resulted within the criminalisation of the Christian faith in public spaces.
The council agreed to vary tack after meeting with local Christian leaders on 23 April.
During the meeting, the Christian leaders gave assurances that “aggressive” street preaching by just a few individuals was being addressed, and agreed to work with the council on a latest voluntary code of conduct.
The council acknowledged concerns about its proposals being too broad and agreed to withdraw the injunction but said it could still consider complaints on a case by case basis and will pursue targeted legal motion if obligatory.
An additional meeting has now been planned between the council and native Christians in an attempt to search out “constructive and lasting solutions”.
Chairman of the Rushmoor Faith Leaders Forum, Bishop Malcolm Cummins, said: “We’re relieved that our discussions with the council have proved constructive. We now stay up for working closely together to construct even stronger relationships.”
One local preacher and trained evangelist, Jamie Broadey, said he felt “complete unbelief” when he first read the draft proposals, saying that they’d have overturned activities “which Christians have done freely on this country for hundreds of years”.“However, following the meeting, it seemed that the council have taken onboard our concerns. We welcome the news that the council has withdrawn its application, however it is extremely concerning that they made this try and criminalise the Christian faith in the primary instance,” he said.
Another street preacher, Sally McGuinness, wants an apology from the council.
“I feel the council has did not see the great that Christians bring through proactive outreach,” she said. “If this had not been challenged and stopped in its tracks now, we now have no doubts that the Christian faith could be criminalised in Aldershot and Farnborough. This would have been terrible for Christian freedoms and freedom usually on this country.“We are still awaiting an apology from the council and assurances that nothing like it will ever occur again.”
CLC chief executive Andrea Williams said the council had made a “serious error of judgement”.
“Rushmoor Borough Council’s try and silence Christian Street preachers represents a big and deeply troubling attack on freedom of speech and spiritual expression,” she said. “This attempted injunction was not merely an overreach – it was a direct assault on the liberties that underpin our democratic society,” she said.
“Freedom of speech—and particularly religious expression—isn’t a privilege handed out on the discretion of local authorities. It is a fundamental right, protected by law, and hard-won through centuries of struggle.“We urge Christians to stay vigilant and prayerful, and to proceed supporting efforts to be certain that the general public square stays open to the gospel and to the free exchange of ideas.”
The Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, Councillor Gareth Williams, said: “I’m pleased that, following our discussions with the local Christian community and faith leaders, we now have been capable of address this very sensitive issue and agree a way forward that balances the rights to freedom of worship and expression with the interests of all town centre users.”
Local Conservative Councillor Gareth Lyon said the council had made “absolutely the precise decision” and that the U-turn was a “great end result”.
“The positive engagement from local churches and Christian groups which the council has listened to, will reassure those that Rushmoor is a spot where freedom of speech and conscience is valued and where partnership works,” he said.
Lib Dem Councillor Craig Card said: “It was essential for the council to take a seat down and work this out with the local faith communities so legal motion might be avoided – I’m glad that an alternate path has been found.”
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