Leicestershire police and city council may ban English Defence League demo
Police and city council bosses are investigating measures to ban the controversial English Defence League from marching in Leicester.
Senior officers at Leicestershire police and Leicester City Council are considering asking Home Secretary Theresa May to prohibit a march it is believed the group is aiming to stage next month.
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Theresa May
The English Defence League (EDL), which says it is opposed to Islamic extremism, has said it intends to hold a demonstration in Leicester on Saturday, October 9.
Crucially, it has not said whether it intends to stage a march through the city or a static demonstration.
To obtain permission to march, it must formally apply to the authorities to agree a route and timing.
The Home Secretary can step in to ban marches, if there is a credible threat of violence and disorder but only following a request by a council and police force.
However, neither the police nor the Home Secretary have any power to ban static demonstrations. But conditions can be imposed to control the location, size and duration of a demonstration.
The EDL, whose critics accuse of using violent tactics during recent protests in Bradford and Nottingham, did not respond to a request by the Mercury yesterday for it to clarify its plans.
Leicester City Council also said yesterday it had nothing to add to a statement it issued earlier this week in which it confirmed it was holding discussions with senior police officers.
Councillor Mohammed Dawood, the city council's cabinet member for community cohesion, said the council and police would follow the correct legal procedures if the EDL confirmed its intention to march.
He said: "The EDL has held protests in other cities and there always seems to be public order issues.
"Leicester is a strong city and it will overcome this if the EDL does come here."
Patrick Kitterick, whose Castle ward includes the city centre, said: "There is always a balance to be struck between civil liberties but my feeling is the EDL is not welcome in Leicester."
The Leicester Multicultural Advisory Group, an informal group of community leaders, police officers and city council representatives, will discuss the EDL demonstration today.
The Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, which represents most of the mosques in the city and county, yesterday said the EDL's presence could cause tensions.
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by EDL next Leader, Leicester
Saturday, October 09 2010, 6:28PM
“http://pibillwarner.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/passport_jpg25201.jpg”
by Jack the Lad, Leicester
Friday, October 08 2010, 4:17PM
“I see the Police will be there interfering again Instead of keeping the peace they will be steering thing up . How Meany will they push over and Kill this time”
by ns, leic
Saturday, September 11 2010, 7:53AM
“Perhaps he goes to Facebook as it's increasingly becoming the voice of the masses? Ivory tower 'intelligent debate' is great, but it's the opinions of the masses that count in these things. They are the ones in the streets, they are the voters influencing Government policy.
The Sun is by no stretch of the imagination an intellectual newspaper, and it wouldn't exactly be the first place you would turn for intelligent debate, but it is by far the best selling newspaper in the UK, which means large sections of the voting population use it to influence their views. So in other words what it says -and the reader's views it influences and reflects- is important without neccessarily being intelligent. And it is the same with Facebook. It is not intellectual but it IS amazingly powerful (see 'cat bin woman' as an example) and as such is a valuable resource for seeing where public opinion lies, and therefore it can't be ignored....totally agree Julie, it is a fantastic means of fast communication, but anyone can assume any identity on there, make spurious claims and purport to be involved with things that they are not.”
by Lawrence, Leics
Saturday, September 11 2010, 1:46AM
“''Lawrence, Leics - You've been hilariously contradictory - thanks very much for making me smile x bless ya and all who sail on your ship of fools xx Steve, Countesthorpe''
Good night big-boy, much love ;) xx
ps. try not to hate people just because you disagree with them.
'If you judge someone, you have no time to love them' Mother Teresa”
by Lawrence, Leics
Saturday, September 11 2010, 1:38AM
“''You might want to tell men from the gay community that and see what reaction you get..........'' j, leic
Absolute rubbish!!! This is 2010 not 1980!!!”
by Julie, Leicester
Saturday, September 11 2010, 1:25AM
“Good god, you go to facebook for intelligent debate Eddie?
-ns, leic
Perhaps he goes to Facebook as it's increasingly becoming the voice of the masses? Ivory tower 'intelligent debate' is great, but it's the opinions of the masses that count in these things. They are the ones in the streets, they are the voters influencing Government policy.
The Sun is by no stretch of the imagination an intellectual newspaper, and it wouldn't exactly be the first place you would turn for intelligent debate, but it is by far the best selling newspaper in the UK, which means large sections of the voting population use it to influence their views. So in other words what it says -and the reader's views it influences and reflects- is important without neccessarily being intelligent. And it is the same with Facebook. It is not intellectual but it IS amazingly powerful (see 'cat bin woman' as an example) and as such is a valuable resource for seeing where public opinion lies, and therefore it can't be ignored.”
by Steve, Countesthorpe
Friday, September 10 2010, 11:11PM
“Lawrence, Leics - You've been hilariously contradictory - thanks very much for making me smile x bless ya and all who sail on your ship of fools xx”
by ns, leic
Friday, September 10 2010, 9:03PM
“Good god, you go to facebook for intelligent debate Eddie?”
by ns, leic
Friday, September 10 2010, 7:51PM
“I am sure the GLBT division of the EDL need no lectures on discrimination from anybody. Nor the gay community who were subjected to an anti gay demonstration from islamists at a midlands GAYPRIDE event”
by j, leic
Friday, September 10 2010, 7:38PM
“"An englishman has the right in a free democracy to express a concientiously held belief without fear of physical attack"
You might want to tell men from the gay community that and see what reaction you get..........”