£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

Vicar backs bid to drive BNP's annual bash from the county

A vicar has called for opposition to British National Party plans to hold its annual festival in Derbyshire for the next two years.

The BNP held Red, White and Blue, near Denby, in July, and wants to hold it there again next year and in 2009. But the Rev Ken Horleston, vicar for St Clement's Church in Horsley, said he believed the festival was bad for Amber Valley. He said he felt guilty for not doing more to stop this year's event and had the backing of the area's other vicars in saying Christians should not support the party.

Mr Horleston, 57, said: "As far as my guilt is concerned, I did nothing to try and stop the Denby event taking place but now wish to make my opposition clear. If Red, White and Blue becomes an annual event I would like to think that not only I but others from the local area would let our voices of objection be heard."

He said the BNP's views on race and immigration went against the view, which was central to Christianity, that people should love one another. The party stands for, among other things, an immediate end to immigration to the UK and the repatriation of Britain's non-whites to their countries of origin.

Mr Horleston said: "The bible calls on people to 'love thy neighbour' but the BNP's views are in violation of this. A person cannot be a practising Christian and vote for the BNP."

The Rev Karen Padley, of All Saints' Church, Marlpool, agreed with Mr Horleston and said she raised objections to Amber Valley Borough Council about this year's festival. She said: "I don't want to see Red, White and Blue held in Derbyshire. I raised objections with the borough council about this year's event because I felt it would be harmful to community spirit. Ethnic minorities in Amber Valley suffer from racism and events like Red, White and Blue only make it worse."

The national press officer for the BNP, Dr Phil Edwards, said vicars should not get involved in politics but Mr Padley maintained it was not unusual for them to do so.

Ms Padley, 39, said: "Throughout history, Christians have been involved in politics when they felt it was right to be so. We were involved in the abolition of the slave trade and, recently, supported the Debt Aid campaign."

Dr Edwards also accused the vicars of contradicting their own beliefs. He said: "The vicars have lost their way. The Bible says that God scattered the nations throughout the world in their own regions. By suggesting multi-racial societies they are going against God's will."

He said that opposition from the church would not stop the BNP holding Red, White and Blue near Denby next year.

Derbyshire Evening Telegraph