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Prosecutors told the court that law enforcement maintained reasonable suspicions indicating Tommy Robinson's phone contained material related to acts of terrorism when they detained him in the previous year as he tried to depart from the UK.

Denial to Provide Phone Password

The far-right activist, whose legal name is Tommy Robinson, allegedly refused to provide his password to officers, stating it contained journalist content.” This happened after he was stopped at the Channel tunnel on 28 July 2024.

Prosecution Arguments on Anti-Terror Authority

On the last day of the trial, prosecutor Jo Morris stated that the counter-terrorism powers used by law enforcement are intended to allow information collection. She claimed that officers had reasonable suspicion to think Robinson continued to have links to far-right activists, even after the dissolution of the EDL organization.

While his membership of the English Defence League has ceased, his beliefs have not gone away. He is recognized for having those opinions and therefore it is a valid concern to believe that on his telephone there may be data relevant to acts of terrorism,” she informed the court.

The prosecutor continued, His opinions – to which he is allowed – were not the subject for their concern on July 28. It was his connection to individuals who are possibly engaged in illegal actions.”

Details of the Detention

The activist had turned up by himself at the Eurotunnel in a luxury vehicle belonging to a friend and was on his way to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with over £13,000 in a small bag, the court heard.

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

Defense Arguments

The defendant, who disputes non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the encounter on July 28 of the previous year, faces up to three months in prison or a potential £2,500 fine if convicted.

His barrister, Alisdair Williamson KC, argued in closing submissions that anti-terror officers who detained Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to evidence from officers who said they contacted “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, the defense lawyer said this was a allusion to the security services and that no evidence had been offered from the security service to indicate his defendant was a terrorist.

Williamson said the police intervention was “discriminatory” because it was based to a large extent on a protected characteristic.” He stated that the “predominant influence” on the decision to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He added that police had used an “extraordinary power that must be properly policed” to try to discover details that was already known. The barrister proposed that his client traveled to Benidorm frequently, which ought to have reduced the police suspicions about him.

Expenses and Verdict Timing

Robinson stated that his legal costs in the case were being paid for by the tech billionaire, the proprietor of X and Tesla, who has emerged as an ally of the far-right activist and recently addressed a rally organized by him in the capital via a online broadcast.

A proposed date of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the district judge, Sam Goozee, after the defense said Robinson was due to be a guest of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not return until October 25.

{“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,” said Williamson.

Goozee announced he would deliver his ruling on the morning of 4 November.