U.K. Pastor Faces Investigation After Street Preaching in Watford

A 66-year-old pastor said he was arrested while street preaching in Watford, England, on April 18 and now faces investigation for a public order offense. Pastor Steve Maile told Fox News Digital that he had been preaching and singing for about 10 minutes when officers approached him.

He said the arrest followed a complaint about his comments on Islam's history of violence and a call for Muslims to turn to Jesus.

Video footage shows Hertfordshire Constabulary officers handcuffing Maile behind his back. One officer told him he was being arrested on allegations of assaulting a child, a charge that was later dropped. Maile said he was detained for 12 hours, double-handcuffed for roughly 90 minutes, and denied access to his phone and a restroom. He reported needing wrist splints for three weeks afterward.

Maile remains on bail while taking legal advice.

He said the case could take up to a year to reach court and that he could face months or years in prison if convicted of a religiously aggravated offense. "A peaceful, Christian preacher was treated like a serious criminal for expressing his Christian beliefs and that Islam is a false religion in a public place," said Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre.

Maile said he does not preach hate or violence and continues to receive support from the Christian Legal Centre.