Mike Overd, who has been a street evangelist for more than five years, was asked to attend Taunton police station for questioning over six complaints were received about his preaching in the town centre, it was reported in early September.
He says that since a new town centre sergeant arrived some months ago, who urged local traders to use mobile phones to video him making potentially ‘offensive remarks’, he has felt harassed.
Freedom of speech
‘The sergeant also gave an interview to BBC Points West and the Somerset County Gazette, urging people to film me in order to show that my preaching is offensive. It’s clear that this officer is determined to stop me preaching the gospel which is a terrible attack on freedom of speech,’ said Mike.
Mike films all of his street preaching and has provided the police with film recordings covering the six occasions which led to the allegations. ‘I do this to prove I have done nothing wrong. I simply preach gospel truth. I gave the police two DVDs covering all the events that led to their inquiry.’
Of the six complaints, some of the complainants have failed to remember what he said, or had forgotten when the alleged offensive remarks had taken place.
