Church seeks to challenge proposed community protection notice tackling amplified street preaching

Steve Clayden, senior pastor of the Bread of Life Community Church, told Local Government Lawyer the council wished to prevent the group from using amplifiers when preaching in public and was trying to control the content of its religious message.

Mr Clayden said: “They say amplification is affecting businesses, which is not true, and that we should stop referring to ‘hell’ as it might distress people.”

He said lawyers from religious group Christian Concern were supporting his church in its legal action.

Although based in nearby Clacton-on-Sea, the church advertises a ‘Colchester evangelism’ event every Wednesday in Colchester Town Centre.

A Colchester council spokesperson declined to comment due to impending legal action.

Community protection notices were introduced in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and can be issued to anyone aged 16 or over, or to a body, if their conduct is having a detrimental effect, of a persistent or continuing nature, on the local quality of life and if the conduct is unreasonable.

Mark Smulian