Hate crime case against Wellingborough councillor dropped

Anthony Stevens, a Wellingborough town councillor, has been told the case against him has been dropped

A Tory councillor who was arrested on suspicion of a hate crime related to posts made on social media has been told the case has been discarded.

Northamptonshire Police confirmed it would be taking no further action against Anthony Stevens, who sits on Wellingborough Town Council.

Mr Stevens was arrested on suspicion of distributing written material to stir up racial hatred.

He said in a statement that he had been "vindicated".

Mr Stevens was elected to serve as a Conservative member for the Croyland ward on Wellingborough Town Council in 2021.

Northamptonshire Police said it received a report on 2 August of posts made on social media and they were investigated as a possible hate crime.

They arrested Mr Stevens at home on 8 August "on suspicion of distributing written material to stir up racial hatred".

He was released on bail pending further inquiries.

Northamptonshire Police has since confirmed it "sent a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which reviewed the case and determined that there was insufficient evidence to proceed".

"This CPS decision to take no further action has been communicated to all involved parties and Northamptonshire Police considers this to be the end of the matter," a spokesperson said.

'Abuse of police power'

In a statement issued by The Christian Legal Centre, Mr Stevens said: "I have been vindicated and I am relieved that no further action will be taken, but look what I have been put through.

"My reputation, business, health and even my relationships have been seriously affected by this abuse of police power.

"There will always be a note on my police file saying that I was investigated for a hate crime - that is wrong."

The Christian Legal Centre said the social media posts for which Mr Stevens was investigated related to the arrest of a Christian preacher and the case of a black councillor who was suspended, and later reinstated by the Conservative party, for posting that "Pride is not a virtue but a Sin".