Will pocket money cover it? Boy faces charge for Scientology slur

A teenage boy facing prosecution for brandishing a placard which called the Church of Scientology a "cult" today appealed for help to fight possible charges.

Police "strongly advised" the 15-year-old to get rid of the sign as he held it during a protest outside the religion's headquarters in Queen Victoria Street, in the City, on 10 May. The message read: "Scientology is not a religion, it is a dangerous cult."

But the boy refused and a file is to go to the Crown Prosecution Service for possible legal action.

The police decision to press ahead with the case comes a year after it emerged that 20 City of London police officers between them accepted more than £11,000 in gifts and entertainment from the Church of Scientology. The force has since issued guidelines about accepting hospitality.

Today, the 15-year-old appealed for help in defending his case on an anti-Scientology website.

He said :"I need precedents, legal advice, definitions and defences. Also, what's the likelihood I'll need a lawyer? If I do have to get one, it'll have to come out of my pocket money."

Ian Halworth, of the Cult Information Centre, said bringing the issue under criminal rather than civil law was "very serious".

A City police spokesman said the force had acted under Section 5 of the Public Order Act after they received complaints about the use of the word "cult".