Tim Larkin, American Self-Defence Instructor, Banned From UK By Home Secretary Theresa May

PA/The Huffington Post UK  |  Posted: 09/05/2012 09:35 Updated: 09/05/2012 09:36

An American self-defence instructor has been banned from Britain by Home Secretary Theresa May, ahead of a series of seminars the man had planned in the UK.

Tim Larkin, who is accused of promoting vigilante behaviour with his style of teaching, was last night prevented from boarding a flight to Britain from Las Vegas.

He was handed a letter from the UK Border Agency saying he had been excluded from Britain because his presence was not conducive to the public good.

It is thought there was concern over his plans to hold a series of seminars in areas including riot-hit Tottenham and Birmingham.

He has attracted criticism for his approach to self-defence, which teaches victims to attack and injure to fend off assault.

Mr Larkin told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that his exclusion was a "gross overreaction".

"It says there's no right of appeal. I have a lot of support over in the UK, I have people I can go to, there are Members of Parliament I'm sure I can go to, and maybe this can be reconsidered," he said.

"There is nothing outrageous about it, there's nothing that I'm going around to incite violence or to incite vigilantism - that's a characterisation of the people who hear my opinions on self-defence."

A spokeswoman for the Home Office confirmed that Larkin had been served an exclusion order, adding that "the Home Secretary will seek to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good."

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06:44 PM on 05/26/2012
Nanny-Statist Liberals want you to rely on the government for self-defense. First they get your guns, then this.
10:54 PM on 05/19/2012
Oh great! Thanks Home Secretary Theresa May. Banning Tim from the UK will most certainly end the riots - NOT! Tim is simply trying to help us law abiding citizens understand asocial behavior and trying to give us a chance at survive an unpredictable and unwanted violent encounter. This is a good thing and he should be applauded not banned.
04:16 PM on 05/09/2012
Given the government has just passed "Britain's 'stand your ground' law" similar to that relied on by Zimmerman in the Trayvon case, this ban is rather paradoxical
02:43 PM on 05/09/2012
It's a pity she can't ban the terroristskillers infesting our streets and the muslim paedophiles who came from Pakistan. One is a failed asylum seeker. Not a word about stopping immigration in the Queen's Speech that I know of.
02:33 PM on 05/09/2012
I see that the LibDem's "hug a hoodie", "everyone's a nice person inside" Law nd Order policies have finally rubbed off on Ms May. How sad. Where is an Anne Widdecombe when you need one. Abu would have been a distant memory, and a long way from these shores if she had been Home Secretary.
02:27 PM on 05/09/2012
he should have told them he was a wanted criminal muslim and was coming here for a council house in Kensington and £500+ a week benefits, he would have got a red carpet.
02:22 PM on 05/09/2012
Wouldnt it be nice if the nannie state would listen to the people of the country and just b****r off and let us get on with life.
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
02:16 PM on 05/09/2012
An American self-defence instructor has been banned from Britain by Home Secretary Theresa May.

I guess they don't want us to be able to look after ourselves.
02:00 PM on 05/09/2012
oh but lets let in all the radical muslim nutters !!!!!!!
concodtob
16 stone athlete and intellectual
01:42 PM on 05/09/2012
More madness from this deluded and soon to be lame-duck government. Our right to protect ourselves, our families, and children which this man wants to teach, is more dangerous than keeping Abu Qatada is it? Are we run by sane people anymore?
01:16 PM on 05/09/2012
does theresa may think abu qatada is here for the greater good or the 200 war criminlas that wander about the uk , one of them involved in the death of 87,000 people ???????????? theresa may,s head is in the clouds .
01:11 PM on 05/09/2012
So basically with all the policing cuts, the rubbish justice system, no room at prisons, innocent victims are not allowed to defend themselves????
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mickbono
huff is crap
12:58 PM on 05/09/2012
not bad she wont let him in but lets all the terrorists in that want to come here no qualms at all .
12:45 PM on 05/09/2012
He should have said he was a terrorist who having blown up a few British soldiers now wanted to claim asylum and benefits in Britain. Dragging three wives and twenty children would have been an advantage. Having a human rights lawyer in tow would also have helped him.

He would have been met at the airport by Thresa May and welcomed personally before being driven to the DHS office

Going against him is the fact that he can speak English, won't be wishing to stay whilst undermining and threatening society and won't be a drain on society. Looking at what this government does to protect law abiding British citizens I would be very interested in finding out what he has to say, because the government don't protect me and my family fron criminals
concodtob
16 stone athlete and intellectual
01:43 PM on 05/09/2012
Fanned.
12:18 PM on 05/09/2012
What about his human rights??
There is probably more to this than we are being told so it is hard to judge.