This article is from 'bbc', was first published or seen on Sun Jun 01 14:22:14 UTC 2008 and has 2 versions.
It has 4 recommendations - Recommend this revision.| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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Christians 'told not to preach'Sun Jun 01 14:30:38 UTC 2008 |
Christians 'told not to preach'Sun Jun 01 17:31:12 UTC 2008 |
Two Christians claim a police community support officer officer told them to stop leafleting in an area of east Birmingham where many Muslims live. | Two Christians claim a police community support officer told them to stop leafleting in an area of east Birmingham where many Muslims live. |
| The Christian Institute has complained to West Midlands Police the men were told to leave Alum Rock Road. | The Christian Institute has complained to West Midlands Police the men were told to leave Alum Rock Road. |
| The US Christians said they were advised they were committing a hate crime by trying to convert Muslims. | The US Christians said they were advised they were committing a hate crime by trying to convert Muslims. |
| West Midlands Police has investigated the complaint and said the officer intervened to defuse a row. | |
| Arthur Cunningham and Joseph Abraham, a pastor at Grace Bible Fellowship Church, in Saltley, Birmingham, had been distributing leaflets in nearby Alum Rock on 19 February when the police support officer (PCSO) intervened. | Arthur Cunningham and Joseph Abraham, a pastor at Grace Bible Fellowship Church, in Saltley, Birmingham, had been distributing leaflets in nearby Alum Rock on 19 February when the police support officer (PCSO) intervened. |
| Apology demanded | Apology demanded |
| They claimed he warned them to leave the area, saying: "If you come back here and get beat up, well you have been warned." | They claimed he warned them to leave the area, saying: "If you come back here and get beat up, well you have been warned." |
| Mr Cunningham and Mr Abraham then agreed to leave. | Mr Cunningham and Mr Abraham then agreed to leave. |
| The men, backed by the Christian Institute, have complained to the force, saying their human rights were infringed. | The men, backed by the Christian Institute, have complained to the force, saying their human rights were infringed. |
| They have also demanded an apology and damages. | They have also demanded an apology and damages. |
| A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said the complaint had been investigated by the force. | |
| She said: "The investigation concluded that the PCSO acted with the best of intentions when he intervened to diffuse a heated argument between two groups of men." | |
| The spokeswoman added that following the investigation the PCSO had been offered "guidance around what constitutes a hate crime as well as his communication style". |