from Christian Today
A new ‘Street Preacher’s Charter’ has been launched in Parliament after a succession of fines and arrests involving pastors, some of which have led to hefty compensation payouts from police.
The charter, drawn up by The Christian Institute, aims to protect street preaching and free speech while also calling Christians to preach “responsibly” and avoid “behaviour which might give street preaching a bad name”. The Christian Institute hopes that street preachers, the police and local authorities will adopt the charter.
“The Charter sets out the rights and responsibilities of individuals who engage in public preaching or share their beliefs in the streets of England and Wales,” The Christian Institute said.
“It is intended to support those who preach on the streets, and to guide police and local authorities in upholding long-standing free speech protections”.
The document contains an overview of good practice and relevant laws to guide both street preachers and police.