Police to pay Bristol street preacher's legal bill after imposing 'disproportionate' restrictions

A previous headline of this article reported that Pastor Dia Moodley's legal bill was '£80,000'. We have since been advised that this was incorrect, and that the total figure has not yet been finalised. We are happy to clarify this and the article has been amended accordingly.

The taxpayer is paying legal bill after police chiefs in Bristol agreed they acted ‘disproportionately’ in trying to restrict the activities of a Christian street preacher who uses a loudspeaker to speak out on controversial subjects.

Avon & Somerset Police imposed a series of Community Protection Warnings on Pastor Dia Moodley, who has become a well-known and controversial figure in Broadmead and the city centre, for preaching about a range of issues, including homosexuality, abortion and Islam, in a bid to curtail the impact of his street sermons.

But after the Lockleaze-based preacher took legal action, the police have admitted the first order restricting what he could do was ‘disproportionate’, and agreed to pay Mr Moodley’s legal costs. The final figure is yet to be agreed.

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Mr Moodley first began preaching in Broadmead some seven years ago, and often drew crowds and scenes when he preached. In October 2021, police issued him with a Community Protection Warning, to restrict him from using loudspeakers, megaphones or an amplification system and delivering a sermon or religious address that lasted for more than an hour in any one day.

The warning also banned him from delivering a live or pre-recorded sermon or religious address at a time or place without the prior consent and approval of police, using words or language that ‘could be considered to negatively affect public health and morals, or have the effect of inciting crime and disorder’.

He was not allowed to pass comment in his sermons on any other religions, or comparing them to Christianity, while addressing the public or preaching in a public place, and passing comment on beliefs held by Atheists, or those who believe in evolution whilst addressing the public or preaching in a public place.

After Mr Moodley’s lawyers challenged those restrictions, the police agreed to change them in December 2021, just a couple of months later. The police dropped the requirement that Mr Moodley has to get the police’s consent in advance for where he preaches, and the other bans on him talking about other religions and atheism.

The new Community Protection Warning which was in place from December 2021 and lasted six months, restricted Mr Moodley from using any amplifier or speaker system, or megaphone when delivering a sermon in Bristol, or within 100 metres of an abortion clinic, or playing pre-recorded sermons or religious messages through an amplifier. He was also banned from encouraging or arranging other preachers to deliver sermons on his behalf or on behalf of his church - the Spirit of Life Reformed Baptist Church in Lockleaze - anywhere in Bristol.

He was also banned from displaying graphic images in public that showed mutilated or aborted foetuses, and banned from making derogatory or homophobic remarks about members of the LGBTQ+ community in public.

That CPW ran for six months in the first half of 2022 and Mr Moodley didn’t breach it. In November 2023, a case brought by Mr Moodley was settled out of court, with the police accepting the first set of restrictions were ‘disproportionate’, and agreed to pay his costs.

A police spokesperson said the force had tried to get the balance right between Mr Moodley’s right to free speech, and the issues caused for people who hear him.

“Officers have worked with a street preacher over many years to balance his right to free speech with the general public's right to work and shop in Bristol without being caused undue distress,” he said. “We have had several complaints from members of the public when he preaches on sensitive subjects through a loudspeaker or amplifier in the city's main shopping area.

“For example, patrolling officers have been flagged down by visibly distressed members of the public when he has preached against abortion near sexual health clinics and about LGBTQ+ rights during Pride events. We have also investigated complaints about abuse directed towards him while he preaches,” he added.

Mr Moodley continues to preach in Bristol. He said: “I started preaching in Broadmead about seven years ago, but when I started I wanted to learn from the experiences of the people who had preached there before me, so I was very keen to start a relationship with the police from the beginning.

“I want to engage with the police, and I want to engage with the public - my way of doing that when preaching is I want us to have a conversation, let’s do a question and answer, let me ask a question and you can ask a question. I am only stating things that are in the bible,” he told Bristol Live.

“For a number of years I was able to do this hassle-free, but more recently I have been the subject of abuse and attacks, and that’s not acceptable. I’ve had racism and people arguing with me, which is fine - everyone has the right to speak as they feel, and I would rather people said what they thought than attack me or chase us away,” he added.

“On one occasion, we were chased into The Galleries and into the car park and attacked. When we report things that happen like this to the police, the response we get from the police will be that we somehow deserve it or ask for this,” he added.

“The first restrictions on me were very strict - I was not allowed to speak to or challenge an atheist, no mention of gays or abortion, and I refused to accept it. I told my solicitor and we engaged in legal proceedings. The police changed the restrictions, but I wanted them to apologise and acknowledge that it was too restrictive,” he said.