Police Apologize to Pastor Arrested for Preaching: ‘Two-Tier Policing Is Real,’ Says Grandfather Held for 13 Hours
In a shocking case that has drawn national attention, Avon and Somerset Police have issued an apology to Dia Moodley, a Bristol pastor and grandfather, after his arrest for street preaching led to a 13-hour detainment. The incident, which involved the destruction of his signs—some displaying Bible verses—has sparked fierce debate over free speech and religious freedom in the UK.
Pastor Moodley was arrested in March on suspicion of “racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence” under the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998. His alleged crime? Responding to a question from a Muslim passerby by contrasting Christianity with Islam, and expressing his belief in a binary understanding of gender. This arrest occurred despite Moodley himself being the victim of physical harassment earlier that same day. He had been pushed from his stepladder and suffered a severe soft tissue injury when three individuals snatched and trampled on his sign, refusing to return it.
Following his arrest, police ordered Bristol University staff to destroy four of Moodley’s signs, one of which prominently featured Bible text. For Moodley, this incident is more than just a personal injustice—it is emblematic of a growing trend. “Two-tier policing is a reality that Christians in the UK have been experiencing for years,” he remarked, pointing to what he believes is a double standard when it comes to upholding the rights of religious believers.
Despite his ordeal, Moodley has received overwhelming support from his legal team at Alliance for Defending Freedom (ADF). ADF’s barrister, Jeremiah Igunnubole, did not hold back in his criticism of the authorities. “We are glad Avon and Somerset Police dropped their investigation into Pastor Dia,” Igunnubole said. “But the fact that he was arrested, held in police custody for 13 hours, and had his property destroyed with the encouragement of Avon and Somerset police is objectively appalling.”
For many, this case raises important questions about the balance between free speech and public order. Moodley’s case is part of a wider pattern of street preachers facing increasing scrutiny and sometimes heavy-handed responses from law enforcement, despite the legal right to share their beliefs in public spaces.
The involvement of Avon and Somerset Police has particularly drawn criticism, with many questioning why the pastor was detained for so long, while those who physically assaulted him were not immediately apprehended. To many Christians in the UK, it feels like yet another example of the authorities applying a different standard to those espousing traditional religious views.
As the fallout from the case continues, ADF is calling for change at the highest level. “Nobody should be subject to discriminatory treatment for peacefully and lawfully sharing their core beliefs,” Igunnubole stressed, adding that the current laws surrounding free speech need to be reinforced. He urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to take action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
For now, Pastor Moodley remains a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity, his story shedding light on the often-complicated landscape of religious expression in modern Britain. His arrest, and the subsequent apology, serves as a poignant reminder that the right to preach freely is one that must be defended.
