A Christian street preacher has been told by police that he cannot use a microphone or speak words that “upset” or annoy members of the general public in Surrey and Sussex.
Police officers in Guildford issued the warning to evangelist Ollie Sabatelli, who has a big social media following.
Surrey Police issued a Community Protection Notice to Sabatelli which prohibits him from using amplification while street preaching and “prohibits him from causing annoyance, upset and distress to the area people and businesses of Surrey and Sussex”.
In video footage of the exchange with officers, Sabatelli asks them why he’s being issued with the warning, to which an officer replies that they’re handed out in relation to a “selection of words” which “causes fear and harm to the community”.
Sabatelli then replies that he’s quoting from the Bible and asks whether it is against the law to talk from the Bible.
Another officer then replies, “It doesn’t specify preaching what you wish. It’s saying that it’s just causing an upset.”
When Sabatelli asks again if he isn’t allowed to evangelise from the Bible, the primary officer says, “That’s absolutely fantastic but unfortunately we’re getting called.”
She then explains that if he ignores the warning, police have the facility to arrest him.
When he asks again if he isn’t allowed to evangelise, she says, “Not here, no,” and clarifies that the warning applies to the entire of Surrey and Sussex.
Sabatelli then says he is ready to be arrested and invites the officers to just accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Responding to the incident, Surrey Police Force said in an announcement that the warning was not concerning the content of his preaching however the “volume” and “nature of its amplification”.
“We are aware there’s been some concerns around a person causing annoyance, upset and distress to the area people and businesses of Guildford Town Centre,” Surrey Police said.
“Officers have spoken to the person and issued him with a Community Protection Notice which prohibits him from causing annoyance, upset and distress to the area people and businesses of Surrey and Sussex.
“He can also be prohibited from using any amplification in any public place within the county of Surrey or Sussex (this list isn’t exclusive but includes microphone, loud hailer and loudspeaker).
“The order isn’t related to the content being said, but the amount and the character of its amplification.”
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