Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist, has been arrested and taken into custody before a protest in London by his supporters. Kent Police announced that a 41-year-old man was arrested on High Court orders and is set to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday over alleged contempt of court. The police also informed that Robinson faced accusations of failing to provide police with his phone’s PIN at Folkestone, and has been charged under his given name of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. Despite being granted bail in July, he is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 13th to answer recent terrorism act allegations against him.
Yaxley-Lennon is at risk of facing imprisonment at Monday’s hearing over the charges of contempt of court following his alleged breach of an injunction. Orders were against posting lies about a Syrian refugee which previous judges had declared to be defamatory. The Tommy Robinson X account confirmed Robinson’s entrance into Folkestone Police Station on Friday afternoon, a short while after detention. This occurs less than 24 hours before a major police operation to regulate “thousands” of his supporter’s gathering.
Metropolitan Police have made proper arrangements to contain the protest, and several officers from other forces across the country will help both the Met and the British Transport Police. The two groups are to be kept separated to prevent the counter-demonstration. During a similar gathering in Trafalgar Square in July, thousands of Robinson supporters attended. Robinson is accused by critics of escalating tension during summer riots, although he faces no charges concerning the riots.
Despite his claims of being silenced for speaking out about immigrants in the UK, Robinson is billed for allegations that he is not planning an attack. The accusations relate solely to police powers to access phone records during investigations. As the move to arrest him comes only a few days before the protest, Robinson’s supporters’ strength at the gathering is unclear. Metropolitan police have warned Robinson’s supporters to reconsider their travel to London
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