A group of street preachers are challenging what they believe is an unprecedented legal attempt by Rushmoor Borough Council to restrict Christian evangelism in public spaces.
The proposed injunction, which has since been paused, aimed to ban prayer, preaching, singing, and handing out Christian literature in Aldershot and Farnborough town centres, unless individuals had prior permission.
The injunction, drafted under anti-social behaviour legislation, cited concerns over “alarm and distress” and included strict measures such as prohibiting the laying on of hands in prayer and even engaging others in religious discussion.
Breaching the injunction could carry penalties including fines or up to two years in prison.
With the support of the Christian Legal Centre and local politicians, the preachers succeeded in halting the injunction before it could be enforced.
The council has now said it will revisit and revise the proposal.
Street preachers argue that while a small minority may be overly zealous, the majority offer valuable support to the homeless and vulnerable and peacefully share the gospel, a tradition long protected in the UK.
They say the council’s action disproportionately targets Christian expression and fails to recognise the positive impact of public ministry.
One preacher said: "I thought that it must have been a mistake and that someone at the council, who is very anti-Christian, must have produced this or it must be incompetence.
"But then we found out that the council has been working on this for two years."
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, called the injunction “disproportionate and unlawful,” adding, "we will challenge any other legislation the council tries to bring in which attempts to silence and criminalise the Christian faith."
Rushmoor Borough Council have said in a statement: "The council began this action in response to a significant number of complaints from residents and businesses about the behaviour of some street preachers in Farnborough and Aldershot town centres over nearly two years.
"The council would like to emphasise that we understand the sensitive nature of this issue and the legal action is not intended to prevent peaceful groups of any faith, including Christianity, from preaching, or in any way prevent freedom of speech.
"The council is committed to reviewing the proposed injunction and we will shortly be meeting with a group of faith and community group leaders, who we consult with regularly, on a range of different issues, to help us with this process."