Telford & Wrekin Council calls for EDL protest march to be cancelled
Telford & Wrekin Council has called for the planned English Defence League march in Wellington on Saturday to be cancelled.
Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: “The overwhelming voice from the community in Telford - and in particular in Wellington - is that people do not want this march in our town.
“The council believes the march should not go ahead. We are in an environment now where there has been widespread violence elsewhere and we simply feel they should cancel the march.
“We do understand and appreciate the very difficult position that the police are in but as community leaders we have a duty to listen to our residents and protect their properties and businesses. It is therefore our belief that the march should be cancelled.
“If the march does still go ahead, we will continue to support the police operation on the day.
“We have been working extremely closely with West Mercia Police and other partners to support their plans for the day and we have also been liaising closely with both the business community in Wellington and local residents ahead of the event.
“We have also planned for a clean up after the march should any be needed.”
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Chesterman, of West Mercia Police, said:
"The police overall strategic intention is ‘To work with Telford & Wrekin Council, other agencies, protest organisers and communities to ensure public safety including the safety of those people attending any protest and the football match.’
"The police have a duty to protect life and property and facilitate peaceful protest."
"Legal powers to seek a banning order are set out in the Public Order Act and any application for a ban would have to be within the confines of the legislation.
“There are insufficient grounds upon which to seek a banning order at this time; however, we are continuing to monitor the situation and liaise with the community, partners and protest organisers in light of national events.”
A number of business in Wellington are set to close at lunchtime on Saturday before the start of the march. Several have also taken the decision to board up their shop fronts.
Frozen food retailer Iceland said their Wellington store would stop selling alcohol on Friday until after the march.
Telford Police Commander Offers Community Reassurance
Superintendent Gary Higgins, Territorial Policing Unit Commander in Telford, has today issued a message of reassurance ahead of the EDL protest.
Superintendent Higgins said:
"The plans ahead of Saturday's protest are almost complete and West Mercia Police and Telford & Wrekin Council are working to ensure that it happens safely while trying to keep disruption to a minimum.
"I would like to reassure local people that we will prosecute any individuals who use the right to demonstrate as an excuse to act unlawfully and that we have significant measures in place to ensure any unlawful behaviour is dealt with swiftly and robustly.
"I would also remind people that extensive CCTV recording equipment is in operation throughout Wellington town centre which will allow us to monitor the protests and identify any individuals guilty of unlawful behaviour on the day.
"As Territorial Policing Unit Commander in Telford my main focus is the people that I serve locally and working to ensure that any march or protest that does occur passes off peacefully and with as little impact on communities in Telford as is possible."
