An anti-Brexit campaigner known for his musical protests outside Parliament has been found not guilty of breaching a police direction during a demonstration in Westminster.
Steve Bray, 56, often dubbed “Stop Brexit Man”, was cleared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after being accused of flouting a by-law restricting amplified sound in Parliament Square. The incident in question occurred on 20 March last year, shortly before then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived for Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mr Bray had been playing anti-Conservative and anti-Brexit edits of The Muppet Show and Darth Vader’s Theme from a traffic island near Parliament when officers approached him at around 11.20am. According to evidence presented in court, police handed him a map outlining a “controlled area” where the use of loudspeakers was prohibited under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.
Despite the warning, Mr Bray continued to play music intermittently. Just over an hour later, officers seized his sound equipment.
However, the court heard that Mr Bray contested the validity of the map provided by police, claiming it was outdated and inaccurate. Body-worn footage shown during the hearing captured the activist repeatedly challenging the officers, urging them to consult a superior for clarification. “They had the wrong map,” Mr Bray argued in court. “It was outdated, and they’d have known that if they’d spoken to someone higher up the chain of command.”
Representing himself in court, the Port Talbot resident denied failing to comply with a lawful direction. He maintained that playing music was a legitimate part of his right to protest, adding that his use of sound was “sporadic” and not continuous throughout the day.
Deputy District Judge Anthony Woodcock accepted that Mr Bray’s actions fell within the bounds of lawful protest. “He admits he is anti-Tory,” the judge noted. “He believes his is an important message to disseminate. He needs the volume that he uses to get the message across from Parliament Street to the Palace of Westminster.”
Judge Woodcock also acknowledged Mr Bray’s long-standing protest activities, stating: “He says that his strategy needs pictures of him in the media. He’s spent many hours campaigning and has never been arrested; his relations with police are generally good.”
Mr Bray is widely recognised for his high-profile demonstrations around Westminster. Notably, he played D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better outside Downing Street as Rishi Sunak called a general election in torrential rain last May.
Following the ruling, Mr Bray was found not guilty of failing, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a direction under legislation covering prohibited activities in Parliament Square.
