EDL founder Stephen Lennon's police assault charge dropped

The founder of the English Defence League (EDL) will no longer face a charge of assaulting a police officer.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has dropped the accusation against Stephen Lennon, 27, of Luton, Bedfordshire, after new evidence emerged. The CPS said Mr Lennon would now face an offence under the Public Order Act.

Mr Lennon was arrested as members of the Muslims Against Crusades group burned a poppy during a two-minute silence on Armistice Day in London. A police officer suffered a head injury during the clashes in Kensington, west London, as about 50 men linked to the EDL were kept away from the protesters. Five other people associated with the right-wing organisation were arrested and two Muslim protesters were held on suspicion of public order offences.

Two men, aged 30 and 26, have since been charged with public order offences and are due to go on trial later this year. The CPS and the Metropolitan Police were unable to say immediately if the remaining five would face charges. The CPS said Mr Lennon had not yet been formally charged with the new offence.

Mr Lennon described this potential new charge as being "out of a Christmas cracker" and said he would deny it. He said: "This is a joke, a farce. It completely shows they are trying to pin anything they can on me. I will plead not guilty to the public order. I was trying to prevent a crime of burning poppies. I was trying to do the police's job because they failed to keep the rule of law on the streets of London."

The Metropolitan Police said it would not be commenting on Mr Lennon's remarks.

BBC

Man jailed for posting racist video clips on YouTube

A man has been jailed for 15 months for uploading racist video clips on to YouTube.

Gareth Hemingway, 29, of Bognor Regis, earlier pleaded guilty to five offences under the Public Order Act at Leeds Crown Court. The clips called for a "racial holy war" and were designed to provoke violence against ethnic minorities, particularly in Dewsbury. When he was arrested, police found Nazi and racist memorabilia at his home.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the material came to the attention of police when a journalist researching Dewsbury on the internet came across videos Hemingway, of Longford Road, had posted and reported them. The CPS said they included titles such as 'red, white and blue through and through' and 'Dewsbury needs help'. They also featured racist references and imagery including an assault on a black man by a white man.

Stuart Laidlaw, reviewing lawyer for the CPS, said: "Gareth Hemingway decided to use the very public forum of YouTube to distribute videos of racist and inflammatory nature which he had edited, and which were designed to provoke violence against ethnic minorities, particularly those living in Dewsbury. They called for a 'racial holy war', described acts of violence and made supportive references to far right groups such as Combat 18 and Patriots of White European Resistance."

Mr Laidlaw added: "Freedom of speech carries with it responsibilities. Publishing something that is abusive and insulting and that is likely to stir racial hatred is against the law and the CPS will work with the police to prosecute robustly anyone who does so."

BBC

Father jailed after violent EDL protest in Hanley

The EDL - violent, racist and usually drunk

An English Defence League demonstrator who was at the forefront of a group which broke police lines has been jailed for 16 months. Mark Doel became involved in violence at the demonstration in Hanley city centre on Saturday, January 23.

Prosecutor Paul Spratt told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court yesterday that at about 1.30pm, items were being thrown at police including glass bottles, cans and a smoke cannister.

"About 100 people had broken free from the group being cordoned to come round the rear of the police lines," said Mr Spratt. "A police dog handler became aware of a group of men at the rear of the police unit. He then saw the defendant run to the front and shout abuse at the officers. He (Doel) kicked out to the back of a slightly built female officer and punched her to her helmet, causing her to fall to the ground. She was later assaulted by another individual and was kicked and stamped on."

The court heard the police dog took hold of the defendant. He kicked out and struck the dog and others tried to drag him back into the crowd. But the dog maintained its grip and Doel was arrested. In his police interview, he admitted being present at the demonstration but denied violent disorder and assaulting a police officer. He pleaded guilty to affray at an earlier hearing. The pleas were accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Peter McCartney, for the defence, said Doel was not a member of the EDL and visited the Potteries on the invitation of a friend. He said the 43-year-old, who has numerous convictions for violence and disorder but none for 15 years, regrets getting into trouble.

"It was the first demonstration he has attended," said Mr McCartney. "He came along. He did not intend to involve himself in violence, but the situation carried him along and he did get involved."

Judge Granville Styler said an immediate custodial sentence had to be passed.

"This was a very serious matter," the judge told Doel, a father-of-one from Primrose Hill, Batley, West Yorkshire. "You travelled to Stoke-on-Trent and, I take the view, you travelled in order to take part in a demonstration. You consumed five pints of lager. You knew the police were having difficulties restraining an increasingly violent crowd. You were at the forefront of a breakaway group. You attacked a policewoman from behind and knocked her to the ground. It was an extremely dangerous situation. And it encouraged others to attack this officer while on the ground, and she was stamped on. It is clear to me you have not put your violent past behind you."

Judge Styler said he would like the Chief Constable to commend the dog handler for his bravery.

The Sentinel

Anti-racism protester death probed

The funeral of anti-racist Blair Peach was attended by over 3,000 mourners

Retired police officers could face prosecution for perverting the course of justice over the death of anti-racism activist Blair Peach 30 years ago

Scotland Yard has passed a secret internal report into the killing to officials at the Crown Prosecution Service. The decision was made after public pressure to reveal the almost forgotten review in the months after the death of Ian Tomlinson during G20 protests.

Senior officers pencilled in publication for later this month after an appeal by Mr Peach's partner Celia Stubbs. But police solicitors advised prosecutors should look at it in case there is any chance further inquiries could be made and charges brought. One source close to the process said it is unlikely that murder or manslaughter charges will be brought, but officers may face corruption charges.

A shadow has hung over the death of Mr Peach, 33, since he was hit over the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London, in 1979. Members of the force's Special Patrol Group were suspected of hitting him with a rubberised police radio or a lead-filled cosh.

A report written by Commander John Cass, a former senior officer at the Met's internal complaints department, examined his death. He is believed to have recommended the prosecution of police officers, although no charges were ever brought.

In June, Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the report should be published, possibly by the end of the year, with some details censored. He told a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) that a review of the documents would take place to consider whether any censorship was required.

Members of the MPA unanimously supported a decision to review the documents with a view to publishing them before the end of the year.

TalkTalk

Jo Brand in clear over BNP joke

Comedienne Jo Brand will not be prosecuted over her remarks about the British National Party during a BBC comedy programme.

The comments - about the leaking of the BNP's membership on to the internet - were made during the Live At The Apollo show, broadcast on January 16. Miss Brand, 51, told the Hammersmith Apollo: 'Hurrah. Now we know who to send the poo to.'

Following complaints from the BNP, Miss Brand was investigated for allegedly committing an act of incitement to cause racial harassment but the Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday: 'We have advised the police to take no further action.'

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