A Christian pastor was arrested after allegedly criticising Islam while preaching on a high street in Watford, with a police officer telling him, "In the name of Jesus, get in the car." Steve Maile, 66, had been speaking to the public about his views on violence within Islam and questioning whether the faith is a religion of peace. The Oasis City Church pastor, a married father-of-four and grandfather, was also singing Christian hymns in the busy shopping area on Saturday.
Mr Maile, who preached and sang for about ten minutes, reportedly told onlookers that he had compassion and wished for Muslims to become Christians. However, three Hertfordshire Police officers handcuffed him on suspicion of assault and racially or religiously aggravated disorderly behaviour. During his detention, a visibly furious Mr Maile shouted, "I am a preacher of the Gospel. Watch this. There is no offence being committed here, none whatsoever." As an officer repeatedly urged him to stop talking so they could explain the grounds for his arrest, he replied, "You repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved. This is an utter disgrace, in this nation."
Mr Maile was then accused of assaulting a child, to which he responded, "I've not assaulted anyone, no, no, no. Take these off now, in the name of Jesus. You people should be ashamed of yourselves, arresting a minister of the gospel in Watford." A woman filming the arrest defended him, saying, "Which child? I've been filming every moment and he has not assaulted a child. This is a grandfather, he is a pastor." Boos were heard as Mr Maile was placed in the car, and he shouted, "Mums and dads, boys and girls, watch this – this is the police in our country. Get your filthy hand off my head now. Get your hand off my head now. In the name of Jesus." A female officer then yelled at him, "In the name of Jesus, get in the car." Before the door closed, Mr Maile added, "My wrists have been hurt, will you please take these off? These are hurting me. This is assault."
As an onlooker insisted he had not assaulted a child, another officer said, "Okay, well we've had conflicting reports and we've had witnesses tell us as well, so we need to look into it, so we're dealing with it. We can't tell you anymore because he's an adult." Mr Maile has been a pastor for 45 years and has preached in over 50 countries. He has no previous criminal record and is also a singer who has released five albums. He claims he was handcuffed tightly for around an hour and a half, including with a so-called 'double lock', despite telling officers he was in pain. He later required medical attention and splints for injuries to his hands.
Speaking about his arrest, Mr Maile said, "One moment I was preaching the gospel, the next I was surrounded and in cuffs. I knew immediately this was wrong. Within seconds, they converged on me, boom, the cuffs were on. Pain. Cuffs on for an hour and a half. I was so shocked, everyone was frozen with fear. I was not afraid. Is this a film, is this reality? I knew it was illegal with righteous anger." He was first taken to Watford police station before being transferred to Hatfield police station, and claims he was held for up to 12 hours. He also said he was denied access to a toilet for a prolonged period and that his family were not informed of his location.
Mr Maile was initially accused of assaulting a teenager, but he strongly denied the allegation, and it was later dropped. However, he remains under investigation for a Section 5 public order offence, relating to racially or religiously aggravated disorderly behaviour. Mr Maile believes this is connected to comments he made critical of Islam and homosexuality, but maintains these were Bible-based statements. He said, "I only ever preach or paraphrase the Bible. I plead with people to come to Jesus. I do not attack individuals. I love everyone." He claims the arrest has caused sleeplessness and emotional exhaustion but insists he will continue preaching in public spaces. "They have picked on the wrong man. It was an awful experience being arrested in front of my family and children. This is a gross injustice. I want to be acquitted. I want an apology. And I want to ensure this doesn't happen to anyone else. I will continue to preach in Watford and I am not afraid."
He is now represented by lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre, which expressed concern about the impact of the arrest on freedom of speech and religion. The organisation's chief executive, Andrea Williams, said, "Steve's arrest is deeply troubling. A peaceful, Christian preacher was treated like a serious criminal for expressing his Christian beliefs and that Islam is a false religion in a public place. The footage raises fundamental questions about whether policing in this country is now criminalising Christianity while failing to apply the law equally and consistently. We are supporting Steve as he seeks justice, accountability and an apology." A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesman said, "On Saturday, April 18, a man aged in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of assault and a Section 5 public order offence (racially or religiously aggravated disorderly behaviour). He has been released on bail while enquiries into the public order offence continue. No further action is being taken in relation to the assault."
The incident comes two months after a Metropolitan Police officer was praised for defending another Christian preacher in Whitechapel after being told, "This is a Muslim area." That officer was surrounded by a group of men angry about the man preaching from the Bible, but she told them, "In this country, we have freedom of speech. I understand that you guys don't want to hear it, so I would just recommend that you walk away and don't listen to him. He's not in your home." The much-publicised incident took place in February, yards from the East London Mosque, one day before Ramadan began. Mr Maile, who became a Christian in 1979, founded the non-denominational Oasis City Church in 1999 with his wife Karina, who is originally from Argentina.
