Wellington demonstrations cost Telford & Wrekin Council more than £20,000
EDL and Unity demonstrations held in Wellington during the summer cost Telford & Wrekin Council more than £20,000 in costs and officer time.
Officers from nine different council teams were involved in the preparations prior to the English Defence League and Unity demonstrations on August 13.
The two demonstrations resulted in West Mercia Police making 46 arrests for a range of public order offences but largely passed off peacefully.
The total cost to Telford & Wrekin Council was £22,507, which included planning in the build up to the event and staffing and resources on the day.
Last month it was revealed that policing the demonstrations cost West Mercia Police £342,500.
The home secretary had banned a planned EDL march in Wellington amid fears of disorder but around 400 people from opposing groups still gathered.
Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Environment, Co-operative Council and Partnerships, said: “In many ways, the demonstrations have ultimately brought the community in Telford and Wrekin closer together.
“The council and the police and other partners worked very closely to develop a plan for all eventualities on the day and the fact that it passed off with relative calm is a testament to the work that was done.
“I was at Wellington Police Station all day on the day of the demonstrations and was very impressed with the professionalism and efficiency of the staff.
“We went out of our way to reassure the community and I hope that message got across.
“The costs that the council incurred were significant in terms of time and resources and they demonstrate the amount of work that was put in to protect our community and ensure the demonstrations passed off as peacefully as possible.”
