Police Thought Tommy Robinson Had Terrorist Information on Phone, Trial Told.

Prosecutors informed the tribunal that police had valid concerns that Tommy Robinson's phone contained information related to acts of terrorism when they stopped him in the previous year as he attempted to depart from the UK.

Refusal to Give Device Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his real name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to hand over his password to officers, claiming it contained journalist content.” This occurred after he was intercepted at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Trial Arguments on Counter-Terrorism Authority

On the last day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris argued that the counter-terrorism powers used by police are designed to allow information collection. She claimed that police had reasonable suspicion to think Robinson continued to have connections to far-right activists, even following the dissolution of the English Defence League (EDL).

While his affiliation of the English Defence League has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for having those views and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his phone there may be information pertaining to acts of terrorism,” she told Westminster magistrates court.

Morris added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the subject for their attention on July 28. It was his association to others who are potentially engaged in prohibited activities.”

Circumstances of the Stop

The campaigner had turned up by himself at the Channel tunnel in a luxury vehicle owned by a friend and was traveling to the holiday destination of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the court heard.

The funds was reportedly from a collection to offset expenses from organizing a major rally that took place the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

Robinson, who disputes non-compliance with anti-terror laws during the incident on 28 July last year, could receive up to three months in jail or a potential £2,500 penalty if found guilty.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that anti-terror officers who stopped Robinson had engaged in a “fishing expedition” and that he had been unlawfully detained.

Citing evidence from officers who stated they called other organizations” after arresting Robinson, Williamson said this was a reference to the security services and that no evidence had been presented from MI5 to suggest his defendant was a terrorist.

He said the officers’ action was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to stop him was recognizing his identity”.

He added that police had used an “extraordinary power that must be carefully regulated” to try to discover information that was previously available. The barrister proposed that his client journeyed to the resort regularly, which should have reduced the police concerns about him.

Expenses and Judgment Date

The activist claimed that his court expenses in the proceedings were being paid for by Elon Musk, the proprietor of social media and electric car companies, who has appeared as an supporter of the far-right activist and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was changed by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson said Robinson was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not return until 25 October.

{“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,” stated Williamson.

Goozee said he would hand down his verdict on the morning of 4 November.