A group of ex-Scientologists and local residents are celebrating a major victory for free speech after Mid Sussex District Council unanimously rejected a controversial bid by the Church of Scientology to ban protests outside its UK headquarters.
Scientology’s solicitor, Peter Hodkin, submitted the application for a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), which would have criminalised peaceful protest outside their Saint Hill compound near East Grinstead. In a letter sent to the Council in July last year, Scientology claimed that a single protest outside the annual gathering of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) held on the property in November 2023 amounted to “hate speech”, “threatened public safety” and “had a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.”
Mid-Sussex District Council subsequently initiated a year-long investigation into the protests, during which they observed a second protest in October 2024 and took statements from passersby, protestors and Scientologists as well as Sussex Police officers and the local Highways department. The exercise cost the taxpayer £84,000 despite Scientology not paying Business Rates due to their property being a registered place of public worship.
In their final report to elected officials, which was published last week, Council officers explained “The Church has submitted that the protesters engaged in serious harassment, causing alarm and distress to visitors. However, this is not supported by the detailed evidence reviewed in preparation of this report, in particular the police witness statements regarding the 2023 IAS event and police and Council officers’ observations of the 2024 IAS event.”
“Whilst the Church and its members have also complained about protesters shouting or chanting similarly offensive or ‘hateful’ language, this has not been corroborated by the evidence of police and local authority officers who attended the protests. Rather, the police witness statements repeatedly indicate that the protesters were polite, good-natured and cooperative with no incidents of concern being recorded.”
It recommended the criteria had not been met for a PSPO to be put in place and implementing a ban would not be necessary, proportionate or justified. On publication of the report, Scientology lawyers attempted to withdraw their application just days before a scheduled Cabinet meeting at which elected officials were set to vote on whether or not to implement the ban. In a letter to the Council, the Church’s legal representative explained they were now seeking “alternative ways” in which to stop the protests, although they did “not rule out” requesting a PSPO again in the future.
Officials noted the letter but proceeded to formally reject the application on Monday.
At the meeting, Council leader Robert Eggleston explained “it is clearly obvious that any nuisance or detrimental effect is as much a product of the event itself as it is of the protest,” continuing “it is clear the protests in 2023 and 2024 were, by and large, peaceful, well organised and good natured.”
There have only been two protests outside Saint Hill in the last six years, which were timed to coincide with the annual IAS gala, Scientology’s largest annual fundraising event often attended by celebrity followers such as Tom Cruise and Jenna Elfman. Organiser Alexander Barnes-Ross says “we are not there to protest their beliefs, but rather the abusive behaviours that plague the Church in every city in which it operates.”
High Court Judge Lord Justice Latey ruled in 1984 that Scientology is “dangerous, harmful and sinister” and although a 2013 Supreme Court case later designated their buildings as places of worship, it did not overturn the earlier ruling which found the group is “out to capture people, especially children and and impressionable young people.”
Barnes-Ross continued, “as a result of speaking out about the abuse, I have been the target of a sustained and prolific campaign of harassment orchestrated by the Church of Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs, and this application to ban protesting is just another one of their attempts to intimidate and bully survivors into silence.”
As part of their application, Scientology lawyers provided Mid-Sussex District Council with a dossier containing private information about some of the protestors. Councillor Eggleston noted it “included special category data, sensitive personal data on political affiliations and health.” He continued “for the life of me I cannot see what the lawful basis for the processing of these categories of data is, either in the Scientologists retaining the files or making a disclosure to a third party”, describing it as a “data breach” and advising the Church to refer themselves to the Information Commissioner’s Office “without delay.”
Barnes-Ross said, “This is known in Scientology as a ‘Dead Agent Pack’, and is one of the many tactics they employ to discredit and denounce anybody who dares to speak out about their experiences inside the Church – who they consider to be ‘Fair Game’.”
“Scientology policy states that those who do not toe the line unquestionably may be “tricked, sued, lied to or destroyed” and they will use any means necessary to achieve this goal. I am thankful to Councillor Eggleston for calling out the so-called church for these bully tactics and I sincerely hope the ICO conduct a thorough investigation into how Scientology obtained our personal data.”
“All throughout this process, Scientology have demonstrated a flagrant disregard for local government and the public purse, putting unnecessary burden on limited council resources all in a desperate attempt to stifle free speech. Instead of addressing our concerns about the abuse we suffered inside their organisation, they opted to attack and intimidate survivors through hate websites, letters to our employers and a lengthy legal process. It only serves as an example of why it’s important we speak out and survivors are given a voice.”
“Monday’s vote marks the end of a year-long battle against a very wealthy, abusive organisation and marks a significant victory for protestor rights and freedom of speech. I am grateful for the hard work and dedication Council officers put into carefully considering all the evidence before reaching this decision, but it is outrageous that the taxpayer will be picking up the bill.”
Scientology’s latest UK accounts show it paid just £1,653 in Corporation Tax in 2023.
In summary, Barnes-Ross said “we will continue to lead our activism with kindness and compassion and stand ready, willing and able to help anybody who wants to leave.”
For those seeking help, please contact The Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation on 0800 090 3372 or at https://aftermath.help.
