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Legal representatives told the tribunal that police had reasonable suspicions that Tommy Robinson's phone contained information related to acts of terrorism when they detained him last year as he tried to leave the UK.

Refusal to Give Phone Pin

The right-wing campaigner, using his legal name is Tommy Robinson, reportedly declined to hand over his phone pin to officers, stating it included “journalistic material.” This occurred after he was stopped at the Eurotunnel on July 28, 2024.

Prosecution Claims on Anti-Terror Authority

On the last day of the proceedings, state lawyer the prosecution argued that the anti-terror authorities employed by law enforcement are intended to allow information collection. She asserted that police had valid grounds to believe Robinson still have connections to far-right activists, even following the dissolution of the EDL organization.

“Although his affiliation of the EDL has ceased, his views have not gone away. He is recognized for holding those views and therefore it is a reasonable suspicion to think that on his telephone there could be information relevant to terrorist acts,” she told the court.

The prosecutor added, “His beliefs – to which he is entitled – were not the focus for their attention on July 28. It was his connection to individuals who are possibly involved in illegal actions.”

Circumstances of the Detention

The activist had arrived alone at the Channel tunnel in a silver Bentley owned by a acquaintance and was traveling to the Spanish resort of the Spanish coast with more than £13,000 in a carry-on, the trial heard.

The funds was reportedly from a collection to cover costs from arranging a major rally that took place the day before in a London landmark.

Legal Team Submissions

Robinson, who denies non-compliance with counter-terrorism powers during the incident on 28 July of the previous year, faces up to three months in jail or a possible £2,500 penalty if convicted.

His lawyer, Alisdair Williamson KC, said in final arguments that counter-terrorism police who stopped Robinson had conducted a “fishing expedition” and that he had been illegally held.

Referring to testimony from police who said they called “partner agencies” after arresting Robinson, Williamson claimed this was a allusion to the intelligence agencies and that no evidence had been presented from the security service to indicate his client was a terrorist.

He asserted the police intervention was biased” because it was based to a “significant degree on a personal attribute.” He said that the “predominant influence” on the choice to detain him was “‘oh look, it’s Tommy Robinson”.

He noted that police had used an special authority that must be properly policed” to try to find out information that was already known. The barrister proposed that Robinson journeyed to the resort frequently, which should have lessened the police suspicions about him.

Expenses and Judgment Date

The activist 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 supporter of the campaigner and lately spoke at a gathering organized by him in London via a online broadcast.

A proposed day of the following Tuesday for the decision was altered by the magistrate, the judge, after Williamson explained his client was scheduled to be a guest of the Israel's administration from Wednesday and would not come back 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 the barrister.

The judge announced he would deliver his ruling on the start of 4 November.