Anti-fascists claim victory as BNP festival cancelled

The BNP have announced that their annual Red, White & Blue festival (RWB) will not be taking place this year. Anti-fascists, who have protested the festival over the past 2 years, are claiming this as a victory.

According to Amber Valley BNP organiser, Lewis Allsebrook, the BNP will be trying to hold a number of smaller events across the region instead of holding one big festival. Dissidents within the BNP are claiming that the this is because few members are interested in buying tickets for this year's event.

The festival has taken place on farmland near Codnor, Derbyshire since 2007. Last year over 1,000 anti-fascists and locals marched against the festival and in 2009 militant anti-fascists attempted to block roads leading to the site. In addition, the farmer who hosts the RWB, the festival organisers and even toilets companies have been targeted for direct action. RWB host Alan Warner has cited the attacks on his property as a reason to give up hosting the event.

The RWB was the BNP's annual "family festival", usually held in August. Before coming to Derbyshire, the event was already notorious for playing Nazi marching music, hosting racist comedians and inspiring drunken violence between party members. Its image has not improved since then.

In 2007 the event passed largely unnoticed by anti-fascists, with only one lone protester turning up to express his views. By 2008 local anti-fascists Notts Stop the BNP were more organised and launched a concerted campaign against the festival. The licensing hearing was picketed and, as a result of mounting pressure, Derbyshire police imposed more serious security conditions on the event. BNP representatives withdrew their application in a huff and stormed out of the hearing.

Meanwhile, Alan Warner received a number of late night visits from activists who stole his flag, locked his gate and painted anti-fascist graffiti on his walls. STS, the company supplying the festival with toilets, also had their depot targeted.

On the weekend of the festival, a rally was held by several hundred anti-fascists responding to callouts from Notts Stop the BNP and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) who had had jumped on the bandwagon at the last minute. This was, unfortunately, marred by squabbling between the two groups. Meanwhile, a group of 100 masked anti-fascists emerged from the fields in an attempt to blockade access roads to the festival site. Fighting between riot police and this bloc resulted in over 30 arrests and led a local paper to plead for the BNP to "Never again" come to the area.

The direct action continued after the event with Warner being targeted two more times as well as RWB organiser, David Shapcott, being visited at his Burnley home.

Last year's festival was marred for the BNP by over 1,000 protesters turning up to march on the farm and the fact that an American white supremacist, who was booked to be one of the event's main speakers, was banned from entering the country. A number of festival goers were later convicted of racially abusing the protesters. Photos from inside the festival showed a pathetic turnout for what was supposed to be a flagship event.

At a meeting of East Midlands BNP organisers last weekend, whose minutes were leaked to Indymedia, the decision to cancel this year's RWB was announced. The local Amber Valley branch of the BNP have made the preposterous claim that the reason for the cancellation was worry about diverting police funds from anti-terrorism to policing the RWB. More cynical commentators have suggested that the campaign against Warner and the plummeting popularity of the festival are more likely reasons.

imc-notts-features

BNP legal bid cost taxpayers £5,000

The borough council spent almost £5,000 in taxpayers' money pursuing a legal injunction to stop caravans being parked at the British National Party's annual festival in Denby, it has been revealed.

The right wing party held its controversial Red, White and Blue bash on land owned by party member Alan Warner off Codnor Denby Lane in August.

Amber Valley Borough Council wrote to Mr Warner in July warning him that using his land as a temporary caravan park for the weekend was contrary to the Town and County Planning Act and obtained an injunction. Mr Warner says he refused to sign the injunction as it did not specifically say how many caravans would be allowed and as soon as the number was confirmed as three he agreed. However in the meantime the council pursued a case in the High Court against him.

Now a freedom of information request by the BNP has revealed council solicitors' fees amounted to £4,373 plus VAT of £626.25 for the case.

Mr Warner said: "The only reason I didn't sign their injunction was because it said a 'small number' of caravans would be allowed. That could be ten, it could be 20. When the police confirmed it was three I signed up straight away but Amber Valley jumped the gun. It is unbelievable really, costing the ratepayers all this money."

Mr Warner says he has now submitted an application to Amber Valley Borough Council applying for permission to site 40 caravans on his land next summer.

Amber Valley Borough Council has defended its decision to pursue an injunction against the number of caravans permitted at the festival. A spokesman for the council said: "Do we feel the costs of the High Court injunction were a constructive use of public money? Yes."

More than 1,000 people marched in protest against the festival on August 15 and police made 19 arrests as well as issuing two cautions and two fixed penalty notices. In September, a BNP member, 66-year-old John Jones, was fined £146 by Derby magistrates for making a Nazi salute at protesters.

Ripley and Heanor News

Anti-fascist protesters threaten to ‘kettle’ crowd at BNP festival

Anti-fascist groups are planning to “kettle” members of the British National Party at their annual gathering in a Derbyshire village, despite a heavy police presence.

Protesters, angered at the BNP’s success in the recent European elections, told The Times that they would attempt to trap the far-Right party’s political supporters inside the Red, White and Blue Festival.

Anindya Bhattacharyya, a spokesman for Unite Against Fascism (UAF), said that the plan to “kettle” the BNP — corral its members within a diminishing area — would show that most Britons were against the party’s position on race and immigration. He said: “We will be attempting to get as close as possible and make it clear, by the large number of people [protesting], that the BNP are the minority. We’ll kettle the BNP.”

Violence at last year’s event, held in the tiny village of Denby, resulted in more than 30 arrests — primarily because of clashes between police and protesters. Even greater disruption is expected this year after the BNP won two European Parliament seats, including the North West for the party leader, Nick Griffin.

Up to a thousand police officers, equipped with a radio-controlled aircraft to monitor crowds, are to be stationed in Denby for the three-day festival. A collaboration of anti-fascist groups, including trade unions and the UAF, will descend on the village on Saturday. They expect thousands of supporters. The protesters have been warned that they will be heavily restricted by the police, who will put roadblocks in place to prevent them from getting too close to the BNP event.

The organisers have discouraged protesters from becoming violent. Mr Bhattacharyya said that the UAF did not advocate violence and wanted only to make its “political presence” felt.

Simon Darby, the deputy leader of the BNP, said that the kettling tactic was “ironic” considering that left-wing groups had criticised police for using it during the G20 protests in London this year. “Besides, they would need tens of thousands of people to do that. The violent Left are always attacking us. I think this is all a bit of frustration [at the BNP’s election success]. They will cause trouble and we will get the blame for it.”

The party advertises the festival as a family outing to celebrate British heritage with a fireworks display and historical re-enactments. Residents, however, have complained in the past about violence and loud music.

Derbyshire Constabulary said that its operation was unprecedented and that all rest days for officers had been cancelled, a measure usually restricted to the policing of big football matches. A spokesman said: “Our main concern is to try as much as possible to minimise the disruption to local people who get caught up in all this.”

The festival, which is in its tenth year, was moved from Lancashire to Derbyshire three years ago. It will be held on a 34-acre property owned by Alan Warner, a local BNP member. The BNP has not applied for a liquor or entertainment licence but festival-goers are encouraged to bring their own alcohol.

Times Online

Police ready for clashes at British National Party festival

A recent RWB attendee complete with hardcore nazi Blood and Honour tattoo

Police are to conduct a huge security operation in a Derbyshire village this week amid fears of clashes at an annual British National Party gathering.

Eighty coachloads of anti-Fascists are to protest over the Red, White and Blue festival in Denby, which is likely to attract thousands of supporters next weekend. Up to a thousand police officers will be stationed in the village. There was violence last year and greater disruption is expected this time. It is the BNP’s first mass gathering since it won two European seats in June.

Lee Barron, a trade union organiser of the protest, said that a peaceful march was planned and that violent protesters should stay away.

The BNP advertises its festival as a family event involving historical re-enactments, Morris dancing and a dog show. However, previously there have been complaints by local people about skinheads with vicious dogs descending on their village and playing tapes of Third Reich martial tunes.

Police officers have been granted special powers across the four-day event, which begins on Friday, to prevent more than 20 people gathering in certain areas of the village, among other restrictions.

Residents asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution for speaking out against the BNP, but told The Times that the party was not welcome. One said: “It is a place of warmth and tolerance and we don’t want to be associated with these people.”

Simon Darby, the deputy leader of the BNP, denied that the location of the festival was inappropriate and said that the presence of two BNP representatives on the local council showed that the party had support. “We’d have the same problems wherever we had it. Its the Left that are causing all the problems,” Mr Darby said.

Weyman Bennett, of the Unite Against Fascism group, said that the BNP rally would be a “magnet for Fascists and neo-Nazis from across Europe”. Mr Bennett said: “We want to make sure that there is opposition.”

The festival, in its tenth year, was moved from Lancashire to Denby three years ago. It will be held on a 34-acre property owned by Alan Warner, a local BNP member.

Times Online

Police warning to land-owner over BNP rally

Whoops, here comes trouble - the BNP's Red, White and Blue is back

Members of the British National Party bringing caravans to the controversial Red, White and Blue festival in Denby in August could face arrest.

Amber Valley Borough Council has written to organiser Alan Warner, who has hosted the event on his land for the past two years, warning him that he risks police intervention by allowing too many caravanners to park on his land during the festival without a licence. Land-owners need a caravan site licence to use their land as a temporary or permanent park for the vehicles and the council says that the excessive number of caravans at last year's festival exceeded the amount allowed without permission.

In a letter to Mr Warner sent earlier this month Amber Valley solicitor Paul Benski said: "Land may not be used as a caravan site, either permanently or temporarily, unless a site licence is held. To do otherwise would constitute a criminal offence. I must ask you to state in clear terms that anyone entering your land with a caravan is a trespasser who does so without your permission. Anyone who then does so is liable to arrest for public order offences."

Alan Warner, whose home was targeted by vandals spraying graffiti again last week, said: "I have told our party to break off all communication with the council. I think it is absolutely ridiculous - talking about coming on site and arresting people in caravans for trespassing. This is clearly victimisation. Other events in the area like the steam rally have many caravans on site with no problems. It looks to me like they have been scouring the legal books looking for something to get us on and this is all they have found. I will simply not allow them on site to do this."

A spokesman for Amber Valley Borough Council said: "Chief Executive Peter Carney is responding to representations from the Chief Constable and complaints after last year's event from residents about the number of caravans on the site giving rise to traffic and noise issues. He is asking the council to make an order prohibiting a trespassory assembly on the land for the event, following a request from the Chief Constable. This is aimed at preventing large numbers of protesters attending the event, and follows the order that was made last year.

"He is also asking the council to apply for an injunction to prevent caravans entering the site because of concerns that planning and caravan legislation will be breached. This is in the event that the landowners do not give an undertaking to comply with this legislation. This is not aimed at stopping the rally itself."

The proposals were to be discussed by the full council yesterday.

Derbyshire Times

March against Red, White and Blue festival could involve more than 1,000

Anti-BNP groups expect more than 1,000 people from across the country to take part in a rally and march against the party's Red, White and Blue festival.

The event is due to be held on fields off Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby, for the third consecutive year, on the weekend of August 14, 15 and 16. Word of the protest plans came as the home of Alan Warner – owner of the fields where the festival is held – was daubed with graffiti.

Last year, more than 400 anti-BNP protesters took part in a peaceful rally and protest march, organised in Codnor. But, away from the march, 36 anti-BNP campaigners were arrested outside the festival site after clashes with police.

The Trade Union Congress, Unite Against Fascism, Stop the BNP and Amber Valley Campaign Against Racism and Fascism have now said they will be marching again this year, on Saturday, August 15. Last year, the march went from Codnor Market Place and down Heanor Road to its junction with Codnor-Denby Lane where it was stopped by a police cordon. About 30 protesters were then allowed to go and demonstrate in a designated area near the site's entrance.

This year's route has yet to be confirmed, as negotiations with police are not yet complete. But the groups said they wanted to get as close to the festival site as possible.

Alan Weaver, the TUC's policy and campaigns officer in the East Midlands, said: "We'd like the people in the festival to know they are not welcome in Derbyshire and we reject their politics. It's always difficult to predict how many will come. But I would think between 1,000 and 2,000. Up to 50 coaches would come from as far south as Brighton and as far north as Scotland."

One of the shopkeepers on the route said he would prefer it if the march did not happen. Bill Holmes, owner of Codnor Pet and Aquatics, Market Place, said that during last year's protests, people tore down flags, including the Union Jack, which were on display outside his shop. He said: "I'll stay open. I won't shut for anyone – particularly them. They are a nuisance."

Mr Warner said protesters had already made their mark on his home by painting the words "Dead Nazi" on one of his walls and locking his farm gates shut. The incident happened during the night. Mr Warner was awoken by the driver of a delivery lorry which could not get on to his land. Police said they were investigating the vandalism and that they were also speaking to the protesters about the march route.

Activists are due to meet for a protest and mass picket in Codnor Market Place from 9am on August 15. A rally will be held from 11am followed by the march at noon.

This is Derbyshire

Stop the BNP’s Red White and Blue Festival

BNP slam cops over protesters

The organiser of the British National Party's annual Red, White and Blue festival has blasted authorities for failing to charge people arrested for protesting against last year's event.

Party member Alan Warner is set to host the event for the third consecutive year on his land off Codnor Denby Lane in August and several groups have stated their intentions to protest against it.

Last year, police arrested 36 people protesting against the event but no charges were ever brought and Mr Warner thinks this will encourage opponents of his party to cause trouble at this year's event on August 15 and 16.

He said: "They came up here last year causing trouble and blocking roads and yet none of them were charged. They arrested 33 people and did not charge one of them, if that had been a member of the BNP they would have been locked up. It's amazing that in this country people can cause trouble, throw bricks at the police, block roads and not be charged. "They know now they can come and cause trouble and nothing is going to happen to them. They certainly should not be allowed to come down this lane, they should be kept on Codnor Market Place."

Representatives of the Amber Valley and Derby Campaigns Against Racism and Fascism and Notts Stop the BNP campaign met in Heanor at the end of June to discuss their plans.

A spokesman for the groups said: "Our aim is to have a peaceful protest and through force of numbers show the strength of feeling against the BNP. We want to show them they are not welcome here. The people arrested last year were never charged, but that is not the form of protest we are interested in. We want a peaceful protest, but also one that is visible to the BNP and people going to the festival who may have been drawn into the orbit of this party without fully understanding what it is about. We are in discussions with Derbyshire Police about how we can do that."

A spokesman for Derbyshire Police said: "We took our evidence regarding last year's arrests to the Crown Prosecution Service and they decide if there is enough to make a charge. It is not our decision. We are continuing to work with protest groups who are thinking of attending and trying to make sure it all passes smoothly withour incident."

Derbyshire County Council has announced it will once again be closing a number of public footpaths around the site when the festival takes place.

Ripley and Heanor News

Man who hosts annual BNP festival says he may move

The Derbyshire man who hosts an annual festival for the British National Party says he may sell his land and move away.

Alan Warner has allowed his land in Denby to be used for the Red, White and Blue festival twice, with a third event planned to take place in August. But the pensioner has been the victim of several acts of vandalism – including having his home daubed with a swastika and the words "BNP scum".

He told the Derby Telegraph he had become tired of protestors who vandalised his property. Mr Warner said: "I should move on – I have had enough. I will be holding it this year but, if I sell the land, the BNP won't be coming back. I'm getting my property vandalised, my stuff stolen and my walls painted. I had to install a camera as a security measure."

Mr Warner said he had a flag stolen from his property late last year. It was returned in a jiffy bag with a list of 12 telephone numbers – for undertakers in London. A gate to his property was also forced shut with two motorcycle locks that he had to saw off to get in and out.

At last year's event, 36 anti-BNP protesters were arrested outside the site in Codnor-Denby Lane. Derbyshire police spent £250,000 protesters clashed with officers outside the site.

"I understand it's because of my beliefs but I do not go around aggravating people who have got different beliefs to me. I believe in what I do. As far as the British people are concerned, I do not think we should have any more immigrants. If I'm being targeted for saying that then it's a poor look-out."

Neighbour John Lumsden, who has protested against the festival, said he would be "delighted" if Mr Warner left the village and claimed most other people living nearby would be too. He said: "I'd love him to leave and take the BNP festival with him, although I'll only believe it when I see it."

But Mr Warner said he had already had an offer for the land and his bungalow and would like to move to the Peak District.

"They seem very interested," he said about the people behind the offer. "I have met with them twice, but we will have to wait until after the Red, White and Blue Festival."

Police have written to Mr Warner to tell him they believe the site is unsuitable for the festival this year. But the BNP said it could see no reason to change venues because there had been no trouble on the site itself in the past. The festival is scheduled to take place in Denby on August 13, 14 and 15.

A police spokeswoman said officers had concerns "based on intelligence we have received and the risk that was caused by last year's violence in the area surrounding the festival".

Derby Telegraph

Protesters set to oppose Red, White and Blue again

Anti-fascist campaigners have announced they will once again take part in a protest march against the British National Party's Red, White and Blue festival this summer.

The Amber Valley Campaign against Racism and Fascism (AV CARF) will march through Codnor towards the festival site at land off Codnor-Denby Lane on Saturday, August 15, during the three-day event by the right wing political party.

Last year, more than 500 people from trade unions and anti-BNP organisations were involved in the protest. Police arrested 33 campaigners for violent behaviour or breaching the peace near the festival ground.

AV CARF spokesman John Kimberley said: "We intend to call a lawful and peaceful protest to highlight our concerns about the BNP's festival of hate, which they want to impose on our local community in Denby Village. The national so-called Red, White and Blue offended local people last year. The BNP uses the festival to express its odious racist views."

It is the third year the BNP has held its summer rally on land belonging to party member Alan Warner. There will be a fairground, entertainment, and speakers at the event. Mr Warner, who has been personally targeted by anti-BNP campaigners several times, has dismissed concerns over the response of members of the public.

He said: "I'm not really worried about the protesters and people targeting us. There has never been any trouble on the site."

Around 400 police officers were used to patrol the festival and the protest last year, costing £250,000. A police spokesman said: "We have concerns based on the risk that was caused by last year's violence in the area surrounding the festival."

Belper News

BNP confirm Red, White and Blue festival will be held in Derbyshire for a third time

The BNP has confirmed it will hold its Red, White and Blue festival in Derbyshire for the third consecutive year, despite fears of violent protests.

At last year's event, 36 anti-BNP protesters were arrested outside the site in Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby, after clashes with police. People living nearby have said they do not want the event to return and police have written to Alan Warner (pictured, left), who owns the fields used for the event, to tell him they believe the site is unsuitable for the festival. But the BNP said it could see no reason to change venues because there has been no previous trouble on the site itself. The party has now confirmed that the festival will take place in Denby on August 13, 14 and 15.

Mr Warner predicted that up to 6,000 people could come to the event. He said: "I don't know why the police think the site is unsuitable. It's near the motorway and the A38 so people can just drive straight there without going through towns. They said the site was too open to be protected from violent opponents but I don't see what that has to do with anything, because no-one was trying to get on the site last year."

Superintendent Howard Veigas had told Mr Warner the police would object if the BNP applied for a licence to sell alcohol and play music. But the BNP has said it would not be doing this and that people could bring their own alcohol if they wished.

Mr Warner said guests at the festival would again include party leader Nick Griffin as well as a number of "speakers from abroad".

A nearby resident, Brian Bentley, of Codnor-Denby Lane, said he was unhappy the BNP would be returning but doubted how many would attend. Mr Bentley, 77, said: "Noise is one of my main concerns. I think the BNP believe they are going to make gains in the coming elections because of the expenses scandal and that will mean they get more people at the festival. But the increase in visitors they are talking about is highly unlikely. I don't see how they would fit on the site."

Last year, about 400 anti-BNP protesters took part in a peaceful protest march, organised in Codnor by Unite Against Fascism, Stop the BNP and Derby's Racial Equality Council.

Council executive director Kirit Mistry said: "We are disappointed the BNP are coming back. We need to speak to police and groups such as the UAF to decide on our response."

A police spokeswoman said officers' concerns about the festival were "based on intelligence we have received and the risk that was caused by last year's violence in the area surrounding the festival".

Police only have powers to object to a music and alcohol licence being granted. They cannot object to the festival itself as it is on private land.

Derby Telegraph

Police set to object to BNP festival plan

Griffin cooking some rancid crap at last year's Red, White and Blue

Controversial plans to stage a British National Party festival on land between Codnor and Denby for a third year have been cast into fresh doubt.

Supt Howard Veigas, from Derbyshire Police, has written to party member Alan Warner, who hosts the event on his land off Codnor Denby Lane, confirming the force will object to an alcohol and live music licence for the festival this year. The Red, White and Blue event went ahead without a licence last year with BNP members encouraged to bring their own alcohol, but Mr Warner admits he is still unsure whether he will host it again in August this year.

He said: "I'm not sure where the festival will be this year. Here or somewhere else – I don't know. If the council is minded to approve a licence for music and alcohol then the police have said the whole site will need to be fenced off and we just can't afford to put a fence up around 30 acres of land. It is strange that the police have objected to our festival and not the Rock and Blues. We had no trouble on our site last year."

Mr Warner also pointed an accusing finger at Derbyshire Police over their handling of last year's event where people protesting against the party marched through Codnor and Loscoe and 33 arrests were made.

He said: "The police more or less manufactured the problems by allowing people to get off the buses. They should have turned those buses back. It is the lefties and the Communists causing the problems, not members of the BNP. You only have to look at what happened in London recently, if there is anything to object to they are there – if you want to build an airport, take some coal out of the ground or widen a motorway, there they are."

Police have said they would oppose this year's festival on the grounds of public safety, crime and disorder, public nuisance and protection of children.

A spokesman for the force said: "We have written to Mr Warner saying that if he was to apply for a licence to sell alcohol and have live entertainment we would object to that. He could still go ahead with the festival but would not be allowed to sell alcohol or have live music. We have to facilitate lawful protest which was done in the majority last year apart from the documented problems we had and the arrests that were made."

Ripley and Heanor News

Derbyshire police will object if BNP festival comes to county again

Griffin speaking at last year's RWB, while Alan Warner nods off beside him

A senior police officer has told the BNP he fears more violence if the party tries to hold its annual festival in the county this summer.

Alan Warner wants to hold the Red, White and Blue festival in fields next to his home in Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby, for the third successive year. But Superintendent Howard Veigas, who policed the event last year, has pre-empted any official announcement by writing to Mr Warner with his concerns.

He said the police would object if the party applied to Amber Valley Borough Council for a licence to sell alcohol and play live music at the event.The comments came after the force spent £250,000 policing last year's event with about 400 officers. Anti-BNP protesters clashed with police outside the festival site, leading to 33 arrests.

The letter to Mr Warner said: "In the view of the Derbyshire Constabulary, the site at Codnor-Denby Lane is not a suitable venue for an event which generates such strong emotions and objections. We would oppose it on the grounds of risk to public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance and protection of children from harm.

"The protests last year led to a high number of arrests following various incidents of disorder which took place around the site. The open nature of the site means that it is impossible for the festival to be protected against any determined and violent opponent without a large police presence."

Last year, the BNP withdrew its application to sell alcohol and play live music on the land after the police objected but the event itself went ahead. Mr Warner said the same could happen this year. He said he could not understand the views in the letter as last year's problems had been caused by anti-BNP activists. He said: "We didn't have any trouble on our site last year. If the BNP were to apply but not get the licences I would imagine we would still hold an event."

One festival organiser, Wendy Russell, said that, if the festival took place in Derbyshire, it would be held on or around August 13, 14 and 15. She said: "We are having a committee meeting about it within the next couple of weeks. It will definitely go ahead somewhere, as it's the 10th one, so we've got to pull out all the stops. There's always other options but we like Mr Warner's land and the local area."

One local resident, Brian Bentley, 77, of Codnor-Denby Lane, said he was delighted the police were planning to object.

"If the paperwork comes in I will be objecting, as I did the year before, on the basis of noise," he said.

A police spokeswoman said the concerns raised with Mr Warner were "based on intelligence we have received and the risk that was caused by last year's violence in the area surrounding the festival".

"We are in regular contact with Mr Warner to discuss his plans," she added.

Police only have powers to object to a music and alcohol licence being granted; they cannot object to the festival itself as it is being held on private land

This is Derbyshire

£250,000 cost of protest over BNP festival

Over-enthusiastic policing for the unnecessary and deliberately
provocative Red, White and Blue annual piss-up

Dealing with violent protests which broke out during a controversial BNP festival cost Derbyshire police a quarter of a million pounds.

The figure has been revealed by Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon, who said the two-day Red, White and Blue event, in Denby, had to be staffed by up to 400 officers. During the event, anti-BNP protesters clashed with police, leaving residents trapped inside their homes. Those who live near the site have now called for police to try to prevent any future festival being held in the village.

Mr Creedon said the £250,000 cost of policing the event was made up of providing police officers, as well as paying for overtime, planning for the event before it took place and the use of the police helicopter. The force also had to provide food and mobile toilets for officers based at the site.

Mr Creedon said: “This is an example of a national event that has financial implications on the force because it is being held in the county. We are responsible for policing and staffing the event without any additional support at all from central Government. We have not asked for this event to be held in Derbyshire, but we have to spend the money on policing it. The police can seek a contribution to the costs in limited circumstances. Where the police are providing additional assistance to an organiser in order to facilitate an event such as a football match a charge can be levied. However, where the police are deploying resources to protect the local community and combat potential crime this event, we cannot.”

During the two-day event in August, which was held on land owned by BNP member Alan Warner, masked anti-BNP activists fought hand-to-hand with riot officers on the first day of the festival, pelting them with stones. The violence happened when protesters tried to barricade a road leading to the festival. Police armed with batons moved in to quell the demonstrators, making 34 arrests. All those arrested remain on police bail.

Mr Warner said: “It is a lot of money but we did not ask for any police presence, we had our own security for the event.”

News of the £250,000 cost of policing outside the festival comes just days after Mr Creedon talked about why his force needs at least another £4m to help tackle major issues such as terrorism and serious and organised crime. He said investigations into these areas were taking up more police time than ever, which meant a greater cost to the Derbyshire force.

John Lumsden, 65, of Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby, said he hoped police would object to any future festival being held in the area. He was left trapped inside his home while the demonstrations took place. He said: “I think £250,000 is a disgusting figure. That is money that could be better spent on other resources. That cost is only the start. The protesters were only at the site for one day this year, I know for a fact that if it is held in Derbyshire again they are going to be around for two days.”

And Brian Bentley, 76, also of Codnor-Denby Lane, said: “This is a huge amount of money and I suppose it is the people of Derbyshire that are going to have to pay for it.”

Simon Darby, BNP spokesman, said protesters should pay towards the police’s costs for the event. He said: “None of the arrests were from the party. I think that says it all. “

Mr Creedon said: “Under the Licensing Act 2003, the police can object to anyone serving alcohol or public entertainment. We successfully objected to the alcohol and music licences but it was not legally possible to totally prevent other activities taking place on private land. However, if there are plans to stage a similar event next year we will consider it on the basis of intelligence at the time.”

Judy Mallaber, Labour MP for Amber Valley, said she hoped the BNP held its event elsewhere next year. She said: “I sympathise with Mr Creedon in that this is a national event of which costs have to be incurred by his force. I will raise this with ministers and I, along with other MPs in Derbyshire, are continuing to raise the issue of funding for the Derbyshire force.”

Derbyshire Evening Telegraph

Caption competition: Griffin at the RWB

 

Christ, when will he ever shut up?

Caption competition. The BNP's disastrous Red, White and Blue security-fest has provided us with a number of articles, some excitement and a lot of laughs over the past couple of weeks but the world is generally returning to normal and it's time for us to get back to reality and carry on doing our bit to get rid of this rubbishy party and its increasingly loathed leader. But let's leave with a laugh and find some decent captions for the picture above which shows Nick Griifin boring the troops and Alan Warner looking like he's wishing he'd never invited the BNP to within a hundred miles of his house.

Let's have your captions for the pic (normal rules apply - let's try not to be too obscene but we realise we may be asking too much there) and we might even be able to get a prize together for the winner. Go for it!

Residents want BNP festival to stay away

Residents in Codnor have said they do not want the British National Party's annual festival to take place in the area again next year after a weekend of disruption.

Hundreds of people marched from Codnor to protest against the event causing road closures and residents say they were verbally abused by party members as they drove to the festival.

John Lumsden of Codnor Denby Lane said: "We had some verbal abuse from BNP members as they drove past but I don't think they'll be back here next year. Despite what the party says about the attendance we only counted 75 cars in the car park on Saturday. If they do try and hold the event here again the residents will do what they did before, object to it and try to stop it taking place."

A retired couple on Codnor Denby Lane who did not wish to be named said they did not want the festival to return to the area next year.

The woman said:"We'd rather it wasn't here next year. The BNP seem to have come out of it all a lot better than the protesters but we don't agree with fascism and would rather the festival take place somewhere else."

Becky Williams, from Notts Stop the BNP, said: "The BNP has chosen for another year to hold the festival in an area where it is not wanted. The people who live in this area are intimidated by the narrow views of the party, they don't represent the views of the majority of the people. It isn't what they want for their families."

Mark Longden, from Unite Against Fascism, said: "The views of the BNP are not credible, they encourage racism and hate and stand for fascist values. It's not right they have been allowed to get a base anywhere which attributes them credibility."

Labour MP for Amber Valley Judy Mallaber said she agreed with the group's right to a peaceful protest.

However on Friday British National Party leader Nick Griffin told The News that the party was grateful for the support of people in the local area that enabled them to stage the event.

Mr Griffin said: "We're very grateful to Alan for letting us hold the event here. We're looking at a number of sites potentially for next year and haven't decided where we want to go but this is a very central location, very convenient, the local people are very supportive and helpful so we may be back, we'll see. The Labour party and its supporters are quite entitled to demonstrate and we are entitled to be here with our families enjoying ourselves as well."

Ripley and Heanor News

BNP's Second Licence Application Rejected!

The BNP made yet another abortive attempt to apply for a 'mini' drinks and music licence yesterday morning for their upcoming Red White and Blue event better known as Scumfest.

It was again opposed by the police who held up screen shots from the BNP website the day after the first application was opposed. The screen shots declared the BNP's intention to sell alcohol anyway and the police stated that they had taken this to mean that the British National Party were declaring their intention to deliberately break the law!

Unusually for a licence hearing, this time the decision was reached by the licencing panel and delivered on the same day, within an hour & a half in fact, with a resounding 'NO CHANCE' being sent the BNP's way.

The police are still, apparently extremley concerned about 'extremist activity' on the weekend of the 15th - 17th of August. Aren't we all!

Our people in the know also inform us that Alan Warner, (absent at the licence hearing as he has been declared in some BNP circles as a public relations disaster) ruddy-nosed, suspected drug dealer and owner of the land the RWB is due to be held on, has run crying to the cops who are now taking his personal security so seriously that he has a panic button installed along with what he calls 'covert surveillance' around the bungalow.

Antifa

BNP festival man's property vandalised

The BNP member who will stage the party's annual festival on his land later this year has told how his property has been targeted by vandals.

Alan Warner, of Codnor Denby Lane in Denby village, a former BNP councillor on Heanor Town Council said he woke on Wednesday morning to find a torrent of abuse daubed on his garden wall in white paint.

He said: "I got up and there were three bike locks attached to my gate."

BNP Scum was painted in big letters on his wall, along with Swastikas and other offensive slogans.

"I started to clean it but feel like leaving it so everyone can see it and see what people we are dealing with creeping around in the night."

The BNP's annual red, white and blue festival will be held on Mr Warner's land in August for the second year running but controversially will be staged without live music and a licence to sell alcohol after objections from the police and councillors.

Mr Warner has contacted police about the damage.

He said: "We are a political party and not racist as they keep making out.

Ripley and Heanor News

Denby villagers fear violent clashes as British National Party sets up camp

A village renowned for its pottery is trying to avoid becoming the permanent venue of the British National Party's summer gathering.

Residents of Denby, in Derbyshire, home of glazed china tableware and kitchen utensils for two centuries, fear violent clashes as the police try to prevent anti-fascists stopping the Red, White and Blue Festival. They say that last year's inaugural event involved skinheads with vicious dogs descending on the Derbyshire countryside playing tapes of martial tunes from the Third Reich.

Judith Osborne, a farmer's wife who lives next door to the festival site, said: “I always say when you join the BNP they give you a rottweiler puppy and a red and white flag as a starter, because they all come with a flag and they all have these big snarling dogs.”

Derbyshire police say that they have no objections to the festival but want conditions imposed, including restricting entry to BNP members and their guests. The party's website was offering membership last night for £15, with cards delivered in three weeks.

Mrs Osborne, in her seventies, wept as she recalled one summer night before last year's festival. Supporters were already camping on the fields preparing for the event and she realised that they were playing recorded music and joining in. “I heard them and I realised what they were singing,” she said. “They were Nazi marching songs. I'm sorry, I'm old enough to remember the war and those songs and that's awful, that's just awful listening to that. They were laughing and shouting and I just couldn't cope.”

Her neighbour, Alan Warner, a landowner and BNP member who is hosting the event, said that the suggestion was untrue. “They would be chucked off the site. We are not Nazis. We are just the opposite,” he said.

The Red, White and Blue Festival will welcome up to 5,000 BNP sympathisers on 34 acres of fields from August 15 to 17 with a big wheel, dodgems, waltzers and a firework display. There will be drinking until 2am.

Last year villagers persuaded anti-BNP supporters to stay away to avoid disrupting their tranquillity any more than the revellers were already doing, but this time a concerted offensive has begun to disrupt the festival, with a planned day of mass action.

Villagers fear that the “Stop the Red, White and Blue” campaign will attract thousands of protesters, requiring an extensive police presence to prevent civil disorder.

The BNP needs a licence because it wants to serve alcohol and offer live music. Amber Valley Borough Council's licensing panel meets today to consider the party's application. Anti-fascist groups have had their objections rejected because they live outside the area. A council spokeswoman said: “Mr Warner can hold the event on his premises anyway. We are only looking at licenseable activities, for example alcohol and live music, and the impact that could have on the local community. Any objections to the fact that the event is taking place at all cannot be classed as valid representations. It is not a political decision as such.”

Noise abatement notices were served on the organisers last year and this time the council promises round-the-clock monitoring. Police said that there had been no trouble last year.

A Derbyshire police spokeswoman said: “We will police it according to the way it will need to be policed but obviously we will be monitoring the situation if and when it goes ahead.”

Times Online

BNP festival host now planning music event

Landowner Alan Warner has announced plans to hold a second festival on his Derbyshire fields this summer despite protests that the site is not suitable for large events.

Mr Warner has already vowed to hold the BNP's annual festival, Red, White and Blue, on his land in Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby, for a second year. A licensing application to sell alcohol and play music at the event has been lodged with Amber Valley Borough Council. Now, he wants to hold a music festival with overnight camping a month later in September.

Local residents have already sent letters of protest to the council about August's BNP event and said they would also oppose Mr Warner's latest plans.

John Lumsden, 65, who lives opposite Mr Warner's fields in Codnor Denby-Lane, said: "I have already written to the borough council about Red, White and Blue and I would do the same for this music festival. At last year's BNP event people were getting through hedges to bring alcohol in and out, which was against the conditions of their licence. People were also urinating in hedges rather than using the on-site toilets."

Joe Osborne, 69, of Breach Road, said noise from the site had carried on for two weeks after last year's Red, White and Blue. He said: "Last time, people were kept awake and a concert would surely be worse. I imagine I will be opposing both events."

Brian Bentley, 77, of Codnor-Denby Lane, said that, if Mr Warner carried on holding events on his fields, it would lower local house prices. He said: "The site is completely unsuitable. Imagine if you were buying a house and someone asked you whether this was where the BNP festival and a music festival were held. You would say 'yes' and they wouldn't be interested any more."

Mr Warner said the music festival would provide an alternative to the annual Rock and Blues Custom Show which, up until this year, was held at Pentrich. The event will now be held at Catton Hall, in Walton-on-Trent, near Burton, because of flooding concerns at the previous site.

Mr Warner said an application for a licence to play music on the site in September had not yet been sent to Amber Valley Borough Council and admitted the event could not go ahead unless this was successful.

He said: "There would be only one stage this year but more could be used in the future. It won't be that big to begin with because we will only be able to pay bands about £1,000 to perform. But we will make sure there's something for everyone - rock, indie, folk, all the genres."

A police spokeswoman said the force could not comment on Mr Warner's plans until he had applied to the borough council.

Derbyshire Evening Telegraph

Anti-BNP activists plan rally at summer event

Left-wing groups are planning a mass protest against a British National Party festival which could take place in Derbyshire for a second year.

BNP member Alan Warner wants to attract thousands of people to Red, White and Blue - which he plans to hold in early August on his fields in Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby. He sent a licensing application to Amber Valley Borough Council to play music and sell alcohol on the site. But left-wing groups say that, if the festival goes ahead, a mass rally would be organised drawing "thousands of people across the region who oppose the BNP."

The action was advertised on the website http://nobnpfestival.wordpress.com/ which has connections with groups such as Searchlight and Antifa UK. These organisations object, among other things, to the BNP's policies of ending immigration to the UK and sending non-whites to their countries of origin.

The website says: "The RWB festival is intended to draw new recruits into the party and consolidate these disgraceful politics. As such, those who oppose the BNP have begun a campaign to stop this year's event from taking place."

Last year, the Evening Telegraph reported that only one man with a "no to racism" sign turned up to protest.

Among those upset at the lack of action was Rev Ken Horleston, vicar for St Clement's Church, in Horsley. He said he felt guilty about not protesting last year and would back a peaceful rally by the anti-fascist groups.

Mr Horleston said: "We are planning a protest from the church perspective as well. The Bible calls on people to 'love thy neighbour' but the BNP's views are in violation of this."

Amber Valley MP Judy Mallaber said she was not prepared to comment on any protest as it was not yet clear whether the festival would go ahead.

Mr Warner said Red, White and Blue would go ahead despite protests and that it was the left-wing groups who were more likely to cause disturbances. He said: "The festival is a peaceful family event."

This is Derbyshire