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Paul Golding: Britain First leader charged under Terrorism Act

Paul Golding describes charges as 'abuse of legislation'

Tess de La Mare

Thursday 20 February 2020 22:16 GMT

Britain First leader Paul Golding at a protest in response to the 2017 Westminster terror attack in London (Getty)

The leader of far-right political group Britain First has been charged with an offence under the Terrorism Act after refusing to give police access to his phone.

Paul Golding, 38, was stopped at Heathrow Airport in October on his way back from a trip to the Russian parliament in Moscow by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.

He refused to give the pin codes for a number of his electronic devices.

Golding was later charged with refusing to comply with a duty under Schedule 7 of the act.

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday.

Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

A demonstrator with 'Bring back the rope!' sign during a Britain First Rotherham demonstration in 2015

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen lead a Britain First demonstration in Rochdale on 22 July, 2017

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

In 2016 they staged a small counter demo at Eros. UN Anti Racism, Refugees Welcome march and rally through central London.

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Here a supporter kisses a badge reading " Speak English or Fuck off " on the jacket of a man at a Britain First demonstration in Telford on 25 February, 2017

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Britain First lead a demonstration in Dudley with a sign reading 'Britain First. No more Mosques!' in 2015

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen, the leader and deputy leader of far-right group Britain First were charged with causing religiously aggravated harassment in 2016

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Following the Westminster terror attack on parliament in March 2017, Britain First and EDL protesters marched through central London.

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Many of the protesters reacted along the route during the Britain First and EDL demonstration held on 1 April, 2017

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Members of the Britain First group and the English Defence League rallied in central London in on seperate marches entitled a "March Against Terrorism" and "We Are Not Afriad" following the terror attack on Westminster Bridge and the British Parliament

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Paul Golding reacts whilst he leads the protest

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Britain First and EDL protesters both marched on the same day

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

One protester during the march held a sign reading 'Political correctness + migration = chaos' on 1 April, 2017

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

Protesters held placards during the protest calling for Britain First leader, Paul Golding, to be mayor

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

At a Birmingham Britain First protest in June 2017, supporters had to be contained by police, where an estimated 250 supporters of the party were escorted.

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Britain First: the far-right group in pictures

'Britain First' held a rally in November in support of their leaders Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen, who had to sign in at Bromley Police Station as part of their bail conditions.

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In a statement Golding said he was not a terrorist and described the charges as "an abuse of legislation".

Schedule 7 allows police to interrogate, search and detain anyone for up to six hours at UK ports.

It is designed to determine whether an individual is involved in the "commission, preparation or instigation" of acts of terrorism.

Press Association