A 15-year-old facing prosecution for holding up a placard which branded Scientology a "cult" has appealed for help to fight possible charges.The unnamed teenager was served the summons by City of London police after taking part in a peaceful demonstration opposite the Church's London headquarters, on May 10.
Demonstrators from the anti-Scientology group, Anonymous were outside the church's £23m headquarters near St Paul's cathedral when the boy was "strongly advised" by police to get rid of the sign which said: "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult".
A policewoman later read him section five of the Public Order Act and "strongly advised" him to remove the sign. The section prohibits signs which have representations or words which are threatening, abusive or insulting. But the teenager refused, and a file is now being passed to the Crown Prosecution Service for possible legal action.
Writing on an anti-Scientology website, the teenager says: "I need precedents, legal advice, definitions and defences.
"I intend to make a big folder with all the defence you can give me, and in case this does get through to court, I will be well prepared.
"Also, what's the likelihood I'll need a lawyer? If I do have to get one, it'll have to come out of my pocket money."
Ian Haworth from the Cult Information Centre said he would avoid labelling any organisation a "cult", but said bringing the issue into criminal rather than civil law would be "very serious". He added: "If it wasn't so serious it would be farcical.
"I'm very upset by what appears to have happened. I hope the CPS realise that this is an error and that nothing happens to this young man."
Liberty director, Shami Chakrabarti, told the Guardian: "This barmy prosecution makes a mockery of Britain's free speech traditions.
"After criminalising the use of the word 'cult', perhaps the next step is to ban the words 'war' and 'tax' from peaceful demonstrations?"
The teenager is seen in a video on YouTube quoting Mr Justice Latey as having said in a court judgment in 1984 that Scientology was a "cult" and was "corrupt, sinister and dangerous".
However, a spokeswoman for City Police said they had received complaints about the use of the words "cult" and "scientology kills" and warned protestors their signs breached the Public Order Act.
Chief Supt Rob Bastable said: "City of London Police upholds the right to demonstrate lawfully.
"But we have to balance that with the right of all sections of community not to be alarmed, harassed or distressed as a result of other people's behaviour."
The force came under fire in 2006 for accepting thousands of pounds of hospitality from the Church of Scientology. However a police spokeswoman said this was done in accordance with the force's regulations.