Pastor Arrested While Preaching in Watford Sparks Free Speech and Religious Freedom Debate.
Steve Maile a 66 years old pastor from Watford, has been arrested by police while preaching. The incident has created controversy and raised questions on the freedom of speech, religion and the way in which police now operate in public places.
On the 18th April 2026 Pastor Maile was preaching in Watford’s town centre and used both hymns and contemporary popular songs during his sermon.
He pointed out that his sermon is more about repentance and comments concerning the world’s religions at large, in his sermon he talked about Islam and it history of being responsible for violence. And expressed his intention which is to show commpassion to all people and to win them to Christ.
As he proceed to preach he was interrupted by the police and arrested on the ground of public order and public hate related offences.
Even though he stood his ground protesting noting was wrong with what he said.
The police got him cuffed in double cuffs while he was being taken into custody.
In his words Pastor Steve exclaims: ‘No offence has been committed here….none whatsoever…. You should be ashamed of yourselves for arresting a minister of the gospel!”
Following his protest a police officer in mockery replied Pastor Maile saying, “In the name of Jesus, get in the car.” was viewed by the public as disrespectful to the pastor.
The experience was quite shocking and traumatic for Pastor Maile considering how quickly the police responted to the situation. He 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 also claimed he was handcuffed for atleast one and a half hours, with a so-called “double lock”, despite his complain telling the officers that he was in extreme pain.
After the arrest, Pastor Maile was taken first to the Watford Police Station and then, later to the Hatfield Police Station where he states that he spent as much as 10 – 12 hours in custody, denied access to the toilet for a long period of time, hes family not knowing his where about for some hours after his arrest, he was also no explation to the ground of his arrest of which he decsribed the entire process as humiliating and degrading.
Following the arrest Pastor Maile was initially accused by the officers for asulting a tenager, whis he claimed was force, even though the claimed was later droped according him.
As he’s currently under investigation for hate crimes related to public order and Islam and LGBTQ issues which he mentioned during his assault trial. Even though he insist they are biblical based rather than to trigger hatred and violence.
“I only ever preach or paraphrase the Bible,” Pastor Maile said. “I plead with people to come to Jesus. I do not attack individuals. I love everyone.”
Pastor Maile still stand on the lasting impact the incident has on both himself, his family, the trauma and emotional exaustion.
“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,” he said. “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.”
The governing Christian Legal Centre is involved in Pastor Maile’s case, which has been viewed as capable of raising alarm concerning religious expression and the limits of that expression within the UK. They are also concerned that Maile’s arrest raises serious questions regarding the policing of various views, including religious critiques, and more specifically, policed in an unacceptable manner.
“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.”
