Tommy Robinson could be arrested today, less than 24 hours before he is due to lead what is expected to be the UK’s largest far-right demonstration in decades. The activist is scheduled to report to Folkestone Police Station at 3pm over allegations of “frustrating” a stop-and-search conducted under the Terrorism Act 2000 in July.
It is also believed that Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, could face arrest on a separate issue if a judge makes a ruling today in relation to other accusations linked to breaches of a previous court order prohibiting him from repeating defamatory lies about a Syrian refugee.
Robinson is accused of violating a High Court order issued in 2021 that forbade him from repeating libellous claims against teenage refugee, Jamal Hijazi, who successfully sued him.
His legal team has submitted an application in court to dismiss an arrest warrant ahead of a two-day court hearing set to commence in London from Monday, which could result in a four-year prison sentence for him, reports the Mirror.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday morning, Nick Lowles, CEO of Hope Not Hate, said: “There is a strong possibility that he will get arrested today. I think he feels that as well. “It’s today or not. I can’t see him being arrested over the weekend, partly because there’s always far fewer staff to do all that.”
Discussing the contempt of court claims, the anti-fascist activist said: “[His lawyers] are trying to set the arrest warrant aside to ensure he can turn up at the demonstration on Saturday. The likelihood is unless he can set the arrest warrant aside, he will be picked up today, held over the weekend, and then brought to court from custody on Monday morning.”
Robinson, 41, took to social media on Thursday after a lengthy meeting with his legal team, who, according to him, suggested he show remorse over the contempt of court charges. In a self-recorded video posted to his X account, he informed his followers: “It goes totally against my principles and values to do that
Am I guilty of sharing that information with you? Yes, I am. Am I guilty of repeating those allegations in interviews? Yes, I am. Am I sorry for that? No, I’m not.
“I face 100 per cent certain imprisonment on multiple charges. I could go in, looking at this case, and say ‘no, I didn’t do that’ and try and argue certain aspects… I don’t want to.”
In July 2021, Syrian teenager Jamal Hijazi was awarded £100,000 in damages following a significant defamation case. It was ruled that Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League, had spread false allegations about him. A judge ordered Robinson not to repeat these claims.
However, it is alleged that he included them in a film first distributed online last year. In June, Robinson was summoned to the High Court to answer the allegation that he had disregarded the judge’s order. Just two days before the scheduled hearing in July, he repeated the claims to thousands of supporters at a large protest in Trafalgar Square, attended by an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people.
Hours after the rally, he travelled to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone, where police officers stopped him under counter-terrorism stop-and-search powers. When he allegedly refused to co-operate, he was arrested and later released on bail before leaving the country.
Paul Golding, the leader of the far-right group Britain First, was the first person found guilty of an offence under the same act for refusing to give police access to his mobile phone upon returning from a political trip to Russia in May 2020. He was subsequently given a conditional discharge for nine months and ordered to pay a £21 victim surcharge and £750 in costs.
Robinson has been accused of stoking the fires during the riots that took place in July and August, with critics suggesting that conspiracy theories allegedly promoted on his social media channels fuelled the unrest. He returned to the UK on Sunday night, landing at Luton Airport, after telling his followers he expected to be arrested upon arrival due to an arrest warrant related to a contempt case.
He believed this warrant was issued because he failed to appear in court two days after leaving the UK in July. However, it is now understood that a judge had not yet activated the warrant.
The film, titled ‘Silenced’, was shown at a rally in Trafalgar Square on July 27. This is one of six alleged breaches of the injunction, including some he is said to have made during interviews.
Robinson is planning a large-scale demonstration in central London on Saturday, focused on alleged injustices surrounding the summer riots, which could see up to 40,000 people in attendance. Families of those imprisoned following the riots are also expected to attend and may be introduced on stage.
A number of speakers are set to take the stage amidst expectations that a provocative new film will be screened, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of “two-tier policing”. Alleged connections to far-right movements have surfaced regarding football hooligan groups said to be planning gatherings in pubs from as early as 9am.
Counter-protesters are also organising their own rallies, sparking concerns over potential violent clashes between the factions. In a recent social media post addressing the likelihood of his arrest today, Robinson declared: “Even if they detain me, we fight, we go before court Saturday morning and we argue for bail. ” He further insisted: “Saturday is not off. No matter what. Everything is arranged and in place even if I’m not there.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter.