Police urge pubs to shut for EDL rally in Leicester
Pubs have been asked to close when the English Defence League stages a protest on Saturday.
Police have visited bars to urge them to support officers' efforts to ensure the day passes peacefully, by cutting the sale of alcohol to EDL supporters.
Senior officers believe alcohol played a significant role in the disorder which broke out among EDL supporters during a protest in Leicester in October 2010.
Officers visited licensees in the city centre and neighbourhoods including Hinckley Road and Braunstone Gate over the weekend to explain their reasons for the request.
The exact extent to which daytime trading hours will be affected is unclear.
It will be determined by the duration of the EDL's presence in the city on the day.
No venues have been asked to stay shut in the evening.
Licensees were handed a letter from the city's top officer, Chief Superintendent Rob Nixon, and Mayor of Leicester Sir Peter Soulsby – who are holding discussions with the EDL and Leicester Unite Against Fascism (UAF), which intends to hold a counter protest.
The joint signed letter said: "When the EDL held a protest in our city in October 2010, arrangements were made for them to drink in pubs and bars before their demonstration.
"You may have experienced first-hand the damage that was caused to some premises and witnessed the anti-social behaviour, which included bottle throwing.
"Feedback from local people, businesses and the way in which this was portrayed in the media was that allowing members of the EDL to drink was a significant contributory factor to the disorder.
"For this reason we are asking for your support to help us ensure that a peaceful demonstration takes place and there is minimum disruption to city centre businesses."
One city centre licensee, who asked not to be named, said: "We'll be closing for some of the day and it will cost us several hundred pounds in lost alcohol and food sales.
"But I can't see any alternative to closing. It's just not worth the risk.
"We're not happy but we saw what happened last time."
Another, who also did not want to be named, said: "We'll just have to take it on the chin.
"I don't see what choice the police have."
Police first announced last week that they hoped to restrict alcohol sales before, during and after the protest.
Sir Peter said yesterday: "We are learning from what happened last time, so we want to minimise opportunities for the people who are coming here to protest to get alcohol inside them."
The EDL and UAF have applied for permission to march through the city and to stage rallies, although no details of routes or times have been decided.
The authorities could apply to the Home Office for permission to ban marches, but said they were keeping an open mind on whether that would be justified. Static protests cannot be banned.
During the October 2010 static demonstration in Humberstone Gate East, protesters in a cordoned-off area reserved for the EDL pelted police with bottles, bricks and smoke bombs.
Several hundred broke through police lines and were involved in scuffles with youths.
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26 Comments
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by ShirleyJohns
Monday, January 30 2012, 6:24PM
“In the light of EDL bigwig and convicted drug dealer Liam Wood's recent Facebook posting, I suggest Leicester Council insist upon a static protest.”
by Bentleygtc
Monday, January 30 2012, 4:03PM
“@ Davidh1967
You talk about edl having basic human rights of being able to protest freely however this is not the same as causing public disorder, criminal damage to properties, instilling fear and intimidating members of the public. You need to look at past history to see how a protest should be done and what reasons are given for the so called protest. It's appalling to see when these so called English Defence League members are interviewed they can't put a sentence together to explain why they are protesting or demonstrating, what their agendas are and what they wish the outcome to be. They have no future vision to see humanity go forward and peaceful objectives. For these reasons they should not even have the basic human right to be able to protest as same with other who do so in this way.
Freedom of speech is overrated in this country anyway. We boast about how much of it we have however we fail to realise we are controlled by this corrupt government and there polices which only benefit one group. We have all the dictations and cuts to apparently get us out this recession however we are blinded by the fact that this government are the ones who have put us in this situation today. We fail to realise all these wars and foreign interventions are costing us the tax payers millions of pounds and only lining the pockets of the rich. It's about time the edl started representing something worthwhile and maybe protesting against such things rather then nonsense racist's agendas which are causing divisions.”
by murphy1878
Monday, January 30 2012, 3:36PM
“Would the police & council care to explain why all pubs/bars are being asked to close, yet off licences are not?”
by LEIC_STAR
Monday, January 30 2012, 3:21PM
“Im goint into town on saturday to do my shopping as usual and stop off somewhere for lunch like I do every saturday,
Why the hell should i stay out of my own city and why should anyone else”
by davidh1967
Monday, January 30 2012, 3:15PM
“"Are you going to respond to the points raised before or are you just going continue with your rather pathetic race hate, based as ever on ignorance and misinformation? I mean you can't even get the name of your fascist allies correct."
Disliking a religion is not race hate! Islam consists of all races, this is not a race issue!! Perhaps YOU need to get things clear in your mind
I am in none of the political movements you mention, they are no friends of mine, I am not an EDL member either, however I do feel that people should be free to protest, this is a basic human right. We go on about other peoples human rights, however the EDL have human rights too! We should not forget that.....”