Church of Scientology protest ban set for refusal

The church's UK headquarters in East Grinstead want the ban on protests outside its gates

Calls from the Church of Scientology for an order to ban protests outside its British headquarters in West Sussex have been recommended for refusal.

Mid Sussex District Council's cabinet is due to make a decision on Monday about whether to put a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO ) in place on Saint Hill Road and West Hoathly Road in East Grinstead.

The Church made the request for the PSPO in July 2024, saying protests held outside its premises caused "harassment, disturbance and alarm" to those attending the church.

Protests were held in 2023 and 2024. Both involved ex-Scientologists and took place before the annual International Association of Scientology event.

Alexander Barnes-Ross, a former member but now an outspoken critic of Scientology, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the 10-month process had been "lengthy and arduous on both protesters and the local council".

He said: "I am grateful for the careful and meticulous detail with which they have examined over 500 pages of evidence and hours of video footage of our protests.

"Scientology's attempt to ban protesting through a PSPO is just another example of their steadfast commitment to stifling free speech and using legal threats to silence anybody who dares to speak out against them."

Scientology became a recognised religion in the UK in 2013.

The Church also said the protests had a "detrimental effect" on the quality of life of people living nearby and posed a risk to public safety.

A church spokesperson said: "The purpose of our application for a PSPO is to facilitate our members and guests being able to visit our place of worship without them or their children being impeded, abused, shouted or otherwise religiously discriminated against.

"The terms of the proposed PSPO allowed for the practice of the right to protest and suggested a location next to our Church premises but one that didn't block the entrance.

"We will continue to seek remedies to safeguard our parishioners from hate speech and abuse."

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