Pastor Arrested for Preaching the Gospel in England Refuses to Back Down

British Pastor Arrested for Street Preaching in Watford Refuses to Be Silenced

Pastor Steve Maile, a 66 year old senior pastor of Oasis City Church in Watford, Hertfordshire, was arrested on Saturday, April 18, 2026, while street preaching in Watford town centre. Video footage of the arrest has since gone viral, sparking outrage across social media and raising serious questions about religious freedom in England.

Maile, a married father of four and grandfather who has spent more than 35 years in ministry across over 50 countries, had reportedly been preaching for approximately 10 minutes when three police officers moved in. During his open air sermon, Maile discussed violence within Islam while questioning whether the faith could truly be described as a religion of peace. He was also singing Christian hymns and telling onlookers that he wanted Muslims to come to Christ.

Officers alleged that Maile committed assault and a Section 5 public order offence, described as racially or religiously aggravated disorderly behaviour. Hertfordshire Constabulary stated:

On Saturday, April 18, a man aged in his 60s was arrested on suspicion of assault and a Section 5 public order offence. He has been released on bail while enquiries into the public order offence continue. No further action is being taken in relation to the assault.

The assault allegation was dropped entirely. However, Maile remains under investigation for the public order offence. He was reportedly handcuffed for 90 minutes in front of his wife and children during the incident.

After his release, Maile posted a video on Facebook in which he claimed he was "absolutely brutalized and victimized by the British police" and was in "excruciating pain." He flatly denied all allegations, calling them "totally false."

You will never, ever stop Steve Maile from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

UK Street Preacher Steve Maile Vows to Continue Preaching After Watford Arrest

This incident is not isolated. In recent months, similar arrests of street preachers have occurred across England, including Pastor Dia Moodley in Bristol and an unidentified street preacher in Whitechapel. Critics argue these arrests represent an alarming pattern of authorities targeting Christian preachers while turning a blind eye to far more aggressive forms of religious expression on British streets.

Maile, who co founded Oasis City Church in 1999 with his wife Karina, has made clear he will not be deterred. The investigation into the Section 5 public order offence remains ongoing.

The Crusader's Opinion

Let this sink in. A 66 year old pastor, a grandfather, a man who has preached the Gospel for 35 years across 50 countries, was handcuffed for 90 minutes on a British high street for reading the Bible and asking questions about Islam. The assault charge? Dropped. Because it was fabricated. But the "public order offence" for hurting someone's feelings about their religion? That one sticks.

Now ask yourself: what would happen if a Muslim preacher was arrested on a London street for criticizing Christianity? The entire media establishment would erupt. There would be apologies, investigations, and officers disciplined. But when it is a Christian? Silence. Or worse, applause.

England was once the beating heart of Christendom. Missionaries left those shores to bring the Gospel to every corner of the earth. Now the same nation arrests its own pastors for doing exactly that on their own soil. This is not tolerance. This is persecution with a polite accent. And every Christian in the West should recognize what it means when the state decides which truths you are allowed to speak out loud.

Take Action

• Follow and support Pastor Steve Maile and Oasis City Church in Watford at oasiscitychurchwatford.co.uk and share his story on social media.
• Contact Christian Concern, the UK legal advocacy group defending religious liberty, and ask how you can support their work protecting street preachers.
• Write to your MP (UK residents) demanding clarity on how Section 5 public order laws are being applied to Christian street preachers. Find your MP at members.parliament.uk.
• Donate to www.TheShepherdsShield.org to support persecuted Christians around the world.
• Donate to Open Doors UK which monitors and supports persecuted Christians globally.
• Talk to your pastor and church community about the growing suppression of Christian speech in the West. Organize a prayer vigil for persecuted Christians in your area.