A Turning Point in Oxford: Symon Hill’s Unforeseen Encounter
It was a pivotal moment in his life. Symon Hill had never intended to be in Oxford on that fateful Sunday, September 11, 2022. After attending his usual morning church service, he had planned to stroll to the train station and catch a train to Birmingham to visit a friend. However, when he learned that she was feeling under the weather, he made a spontaneous decision. Instead of heading towards the station, he turned in the opposite direction to walk home, passing through the bustling city center.
The day was warm, and the streets were alive with shoppers and those enjoying a day out at local pubs. Symon, now 47 and residing in Coventry, recalls the scene vividly. Roadblocks and closures were set up in anticipation of a proclamation ceremony for the newly crowned King Charles III at Carfax Tower, adding to the complexity of his journey. He eventually found himself caught at the back of a crowd—he estimates there were a few hundred people gathered—as the event commenced.
“I want to stress that this was not a crowd of fervent royalists,” he explains. “Some were merely passing by, others had stopped to listen; it was just an ordinary weekend in the city.” The atmosphere shifted from a moment of collective mourning for the late Queen Elizabeth II to the dignitaries declaring Charles as “our only King” and “rightful liege lord.” For Symon, this was difficult to accept. In a moment of frustration, he shouted, “Who elected him?”
Initially, a few individuals in the crowd urged him to be quiet, but he soon realized that most people barely registered his outburst—a reporter at the front later described it as “an indistinct heckle.” Just as he was about to leave, he found himself confronted up close by three security guards, who admonished him for expressing his opinion. He was physically pushed back and, moments later, arrested by police officers.
This week, two and a half years after that day, Symon received £2,500 in compensation from Thames Valley Police, who acknowledged that his arrest—based on accusations of using threatening or abusive words or behaving in a disorderly manner likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress—was unlawful. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had dropped the case against him in January 2023.
Working in adult education and training to become a Baptist minister, Symon reflects on the day of his arrest, noting the police’s evident confusion. “I tried to get a clear answer about the specific law I was being arrested under, but the officers kept contradicting one another,” he recounts. At one point, he was informed that he had been detained under the 1986 Police Public Order Act. “They were on their radios, discussing how to handle the situation, and it felt to me like they were uncertain.”
As he was led away in handcuffs, two strangers attempted to intervene, expressing their disbelief at the situation. “They said, ‘I don’t agree with him, but isn’t this a free country?’ I was incredibly grateful for their support.” Body camera footage from the police shared during the legal proceedings reportedly captured officers discussing the need to either issue a fine or “de-arrest” Symon to avoid complaints arising from the incident.
After being taken home by police to the housing cooperative where he lived—still shaken by the experience—he was informed that he would be de-arrested but might later need to attend a voluntary interview. However, the police proceeded to charge him. “It became clear that the interview was not truly ‘voluntary’ and that I could be arrested if I didn’t comply,” he explains. “One of the security guards claimed I had assaulted him, which was terrifying because assault is a serious charge. But I had not harmed anyone, nor had I threatened anyone, and I certainly hadn’t used any profanity.”
Although Symon has long held anti-monarchy views—believing that the notion of one person bowing to another due to an accident of birth is morally repugnant—he never expected to be arrested for his expression that day. “I was utterly stunned,” he admits. He views inequality as the fundamental issue underpinning his opposition to the monarchy, stating, “I teach history and understand that regardless of Charles’ personal qualities, he is King because his ancestors defeated other claimants to the throne. This sets a troubling precedent for how we approach life and politics.”
“Am I meant to tell my goddaughter that those royal children are inherently more significant than she is? It all comes down to treating one another as equals.” Following the compensation he received this week, Symon experiences a mix of emotions. “I’m relieved that it is finally over, as it felt like an interminable process, and I’m pleased to have received acknowledgment that my arrest was unlawful.” He was represented by lawyers from the civil liberties organization, Liberty. “I’m acutely aware that many individuals who face unlawful arrests do not receive similar recognition or publicity,” he emphasizes. “I feel a responsibility to advocate for others who have experienced police mistreatment, not just for myself.”
Since the incident, he has received a plethora of supportive messages, alongside some criticism and accusations of tarnishing the church’s reputation—“there were numerous debates in The Church Times letter pages.” The key takeaway he hopes to convey is that “this could happen to anyone.” He warns, “Regardless of your beliefs or lifestyle, this situation could easily befall you. If we do not reform the laws surrounding protest and hold the police accountable, then anyone reading or hearing about this case is at risk of going through a similar ordeal.”
