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No charges over Scientology demo | No charges over Scientology demo |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Legal action has been dropped against a 15-year-old who faced prosecution for branding Scientology a "cult". | Legal action has been dropped against a 15-year-old who faced prosecution for branding Scientology a "cult". |
The teenager held up a sign which read, "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult", in May outside its headquarters in the City of London. | The teenager held up a sign which read, "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult", in May outside its headquarters in the City of London. |
City of London Police said it had received complaints and warned the teenager to get rid of the sign as it breached the Public Order Act. | |
Human rights campaigners vowed to take action against the police. | |
Lawyers for the human rights group Liberty represented the teenager in his legal battle. | |
James Welch from the organisation said: "The police may have ended their inquiries into this tawdry incident but rest assured that Liberty's inquiry will continue. | |
"Democracy is all about clashing ideas and the police should protect peaceful protest, not stifle it." | |
'No offence' | |
The teenager's mother said the move was "a victory for free speech". | The teenager's mother said the move was "a victory for free speech". |
She said: "We're all incredibly proud of him. | She said: "We're all incredibly proud of him. |
"We advised him to take the placard down when we realised what was happening but he said 'No, it's my opinion and I have a right to express it'." | "We advised him to take the placard down when we realised what was happening but he said 'No, it's my opinion and I have a right to express it'." |
A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said: "In consultation with the City of London Police, we were asked whether the sign was abusive or insulting. | A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said: "In consultation with the City of London Police, we were asked whether the sign was abusive or insulting. |
"Our advice is that it is not abusive or insulting and there is no offensiveness (as opposed to criticism), neither in the idea expressed nor in the mode of expression." | "Our advice is that it is not abusive or insulting and there is no offensiveness (as opposed to criticism), neither in the idea expressed nor in the mode of expression." |
A spokeswoman for the City of London Police said: "The CPS review of the case includes advice on what action or behaviour at a demonstration might be considered to be 'threatening, abusive or insulting'. | |
"The force's policing of future demonstrations will reflect this advice." | "The force's policing of future demonstrations will reflect this advice." |
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