London Council Withdraws Rules Used to Restrict Christian Street Preaching
Public-space rules introduced by Hillingdon Council led police to warn Christians in Uxbridge that they could be fined for street preaching, displaying Bible verses and distributing religious literature, with officers reportedly instructing them to turn their Bible signs around so that passers-by could not read them. Following a legal challenge by the Kingsborough Centre, the council withdrew the restrictions and approved revised rules on 10 April 2025, allowing the church to continue its street ministry.
In August 2023, the London Borough of Hillingdon (Hillingdon Council) introduced rules for public spaces that required permission to use amplified sound, display signs or distribute leaflets in Uxbridge town centre. These activities formed part of the Kingsborough Centre’s regular street ministry, during which its members preached, displayed biblical messages and offered Christian literature to people who wished to receive it.
Shortly after the rules were introduced, police members of the church during their street ministry and warned them that they were breaking the rules and could be fined if they continued. They also told the group to turn around signs bearing Bible verses so that passers-by could not read them.
The Kingsborough Centre challenged the restrictions with support from the Christian Legal Centre. In August 2024, the High Court allowed its case to proceed. Hillingdon Council said it had introduced the rules to address disruption in public spaces and had not intended to ban Christian preaching. In December 2024, the council clarified that religious leaflets were exempt from the restriction under existing national law.
On 10 April 2025, the council decided to withdraw the 2023 rules and replace them from 1 May. The new order expressly allows leaflets distributed for a religious purpose and removes the former town-centre restrictions on amplified speech and signs in the town centre. According to the church’s legal representatives, the council also agreed to pay its legal costs. The court did not issue a final ruling on whether the original rules were unlawful.
Source: The Standard, Christian Concern