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Prosecutors told the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained information related to terrorist activities when they detained him last year as he tried to leave the UK.

Denial to Give Phone Password

The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly declined to provide his password to police, claiming it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was intercepted at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the final day of the trial, state lawyer the prosecution stated that the counter-terrorism powers employed by police are intended to permit intelligence gathering. She claimed that police had valid grounds to believe the defendant still have connections to right-wing groups, even after the disbandment of the English Defence League (EDL).

“Although his membership of the EDL has come to an end, his views have not disappeared. He is known for having those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his phone there could be data relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed Westminster magistrates court.

Morris continued, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his connection to others who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The campaigner had arrived by himself at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley belonging to a friend and was on his way to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

The funds was reportedly from a collection to cover expenses from arranging a major rally that took place the previous day in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on July 28 last year, could receive up to 90 days in jail or a potential £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who detained his client had conducted a speculative search” and that he had been illegally held.

Citing testimony from police who stated they contacted “partner agencies” after detaining him, the defense lawyer said this was a reference to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to suggest his client was a security threat.

Williamson asserted the officers’ intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the main factor” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that officers had used an “extraordinary power that needs to be properly policed” to try to find out information that was already known. Williamson proposed that Robinson traveled to the resort regularly, which ought to have reduced the police suspicions about him.

Legal Costs and Verdict Date

Robinson claimed that his legal costs in the case were being paid for by Elon Musk, the owner of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an ally of the campaigner and recently spoke at a gathering organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of next Tuesday for the verdict was changed by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense explained Robinson was due to be a invitee of the Israeli government from the midweek and would not come back until October 25.

{“I wouldn’t trouble you if this was a trip to Benidorm. I would ask him to rearrange it but he is a guest of a foreign government,” said Williamson.

The judge announced he would deliver his ruling on the start of 4 November.