That EDL demo: some unanswered questions

Following last month’s disturbances in Birmingham during an English Defence League demo, when more than 90 people were arrested, The Stirrer reckons there are still some unanswered questions for West Midlands Police.

We’re raising these issues not as an exercise in “police bashing” or because we want to rake over the embers of an unhappy day in the city’s history. Rather, we hope that lessons can be learnt so that similar incidents aren’t repeated in future.

We’re voicing concerns raised by councillors, concerned citizens and community groups, and in a spirit of openness we guarantee to publish WMP's response in in full.

Here are some key issues arising from the events of September 5 which we think still need addressing.

1) Was it really impossible to ban the demo?

This was frequent refrain from both West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Equalities Alan Rudge. The leader of the opposition city’s Labour group Sir Albert Bore disagrees saying that in 2001, the government used what he admits were “draconian” powers to ban the National Front holding a rally in Stechford. Bore argues that the same legislation could have been enforced against the EDL.

2) Why were the EDL allowed to reach Victoria Square?

The EDL meeting point in Broad Street was well advertised so how were their supporters able to slip away en masse to Victoria Square and New Street where mayhem ensued? Despite the use of spotters, CCTV etc there was no police presence to greet them.

3) Why did West Midlands Police decide to issue Fixed Penalty Notices against EDL members instead of prosecuting them?

The EDL were escorted out of the city on buses, and a number of their supporters were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices. Wouldn’t formal prosecution have been a more effective long-term deterrent?

4) Has there been any formal report from the community observer or the representative of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary who were present in the control room?

What did these independent observers make of the policing operation?

5) Why did West Midlands Police need support from across the region and even from the Met?

Given that there were no major football matches in the region on that day, couldn’t it the operation have been handled from local resources?

6) Response to the prospect of a further EDL visit to Alum Rock?

Although the EDL vowed not to return to Birmingham, there were widespread rumours that they (or an allied grouo) were planning a demo in Alum Rock recently. Were West Midlands Police aware of this, and if so, how did they respond to fears in the community?

We look forward to the WMP response.

The Stirrer

Scary Saturday - updates on the EDL's Birmingham awayday

Birmingham Disunited as concert cancelled

Plans for a Birmingham United concert on Saturday to celebrate the city’s diverse multicultural heritage have been cancelled after the City Council, acting on police advice, refused to sanction the event. Unite Against Fascism have condemned the move.

The Birmingham United concept was designed to provide a positive counterweight to the planned English Defence League demo – and underline the fact that the city was not a “no go” zone for members of any religious or ethnic group.

Efforts to secure the backing of the local authority ultimately came to nothing when on Thursday they confirmed their refusal to sanction a booking at the Council House. This was despite the fact that local MP's including Richard Burden, Khalid Mahmood and John Hemming had supported the idea.

The possibility of an event on other dates or at venues outside the city centre were floated, but Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg rejected these ideas as “spectacularly missing the point".

He said: “The whole idea was to capitalise on media interest in the EDL demo by showing how ordinary Brummies could come together and celebrate their multicultural identity. We needed to be where the cameras were - or else it would have just been ignored.

“A city centre venue was also vital to send the message that town isn’t a ‘no go zone’ for Muslims and other minority groups.

“As for the timing of the event, in theory we could have a Birmingham United event any day of the year, but as a taxpayer in the city I don’t see why I should be denied access to municipal facilities just because a group from outside the area, with a dubious agenda, wants to demonstrate here.

“This sends the message that those who seek to disrupt our city with divisive messages are given priority over positive community-minded initiatives.

“The whole idea for Birmingham United arose because of what I regarded as the lack of civic leadership in the city over this issue. Sadly, the delay and obstruction our team experienced in trying to establish the event only confirmed my worst fears.”

Mike Wongsam, regional chair of Unite Against Fascism, said his group wasn’t planning a counter demonstration on Saturday - despite frequent police references to the contrary - but had instead urged supporters to back Birmingham United.

He said: “In Birmingham, we now have the deplorable situation where a rally aimed at promoting harmony and unity among our communities is prevented from taking place, whereas the EDL are allowed to conduct their demonstration of hate and division despite their previous events invariably leading to violent disorder."

Superintendant Jez Moore of West Midlands Police commented: “Our view was that it was better to have the event outside of Birmingham [city centre] for operational reasons."

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Demo ban calls grow louder

Labour councillors and Methodists have joined the calls for a ban on tomorrow’s demo in Birmingham against Islamic “extremism”. Meanwhile Broad Street boss Mike Olley has warned protestors from the English Defence League they are only welcome if they respect the area’s cosmopolitan flavour.

Deputy Labour Group leader Ian Ward said: "This is an open and shut case - these thugs are coming in to Birmingham from outside to cause trouble, create violence and intimidate people in our home town. Well over 2,000 local people have written to the council to register their opposition, so why on earth aren't they doing anything?

"This is a public safety issue. These people are determined to bring their hatred and aggression to our city, and Birmingham City Council needs to take the lead and publicly call for them to be stopped. This Council needs to act now. They shouldn't dither, they shouldn't pass the buck, they shouldn't just hope it all goes away, we need firm action now to prevent these vicious thugs from trying to turn our city into a war-zone.

"They banned a march in Luton and we need to make clear that they should do the same here, and firmly say no to hatred, violence and intimidation on our streets."

Ward is echoing the view of Liberal Democrat leader Paul Tilsley, leaving the Conservatives as the only group on the City Council in favour of the demo.

Three leading city Methodists, Revd Bill Anderson, Revd Ray Gaston and Revd Neil Johnson also wanted it banned.

They’ve sent a letter to the Police Authority, saying: “Following their provocative presence in the city on August 8th we feel strongly that the relevant authorities should do their utmost to prevent this group coming into the city again.

“Their sole aim is to create tension and to intimidate and provoke the people of Birmingham with racist and Islamophobic abuse.

“The EDL has been banned from congregating in Luton by the Bedfordshire Police and we see no reason why the West Midlands Police authority cannot take similar powers to protect our city from attempts to undermine community relations and promote hatred against our city’s Muslim citizens.”

Meanwhile Broad Street manager Mike Olley has poured scorn on the EDL’s claims that they’ve negotiated a deal with West Midlands Police for an escort from the entertainment district to Lancaster Circus.

“There appears to be some confusion between the commentary of the English Defence League, as outlined on their web site and the perceptions of the Police,” commented Olley. “My understanding is that there has been limited communication from the EDL with the Police. If this is the case I trust the EDL will make every effort to correct this.

“Accordingly I would urge the EDL to establish a firm line of communication with the Police to sort out what is intended. A march between Broad Street and Lancaster Circus may look appealing on a map but would be entirely impractical due to the road layout in Birmingham.

“Broad Street is a cosmopolitan entertainment district and enjoys a marvellous array of fine venues. We welcome only those who wish to responsibly enjoy themselves and respect all others in the pursuit of relaxation and entertainment.”

The EDL insists its motives are peaceful, and denies that it is racist or Islamophobic.

The Stirrer

See also EDL climbdown over police escort

Protestors - "Brit Muslims are all extremists"

The far right group responsible for Saturday’s demo against Islamic extremism in Birmingham has revealed its opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain. In an interview with Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg on Talksport last night, spokesman Paul Ray also admitted their links with the BNP.

As we revealed yesterday, the protest was organised by the English (and Welsh) Defence League.

Despite the group’s claim to be non-political, it’s emerged on Indymedia that their website was set up by Chris Renton, a BNP activist who lives in Weston-super-Mare.

When EDL spokesman Ray was quizzed about this, he acknowledged Renton’s involvement, but insisted, “people’s political views are their own affair.”

During the course of the interview, it became apparent that Ray’s own view of Islamic extremism isn’t limited to suicide bombers and hook handed preachers of hate.

He argued that the Qu’ran teaches all its advocates to wage jihad or holy war in non-Muslim countries, and acknowledged that on this basis, all devout or practising Muslims in Britain, are – in his words – “at war with our country.”

When pressed, he said: “They’re ultimately engaged in converting our country to an Islamic state…that is the religious mandate of the Qu’ran that all Muslims must adhere too.”

So what of Muslims living here? Should they be banned from practising their faith – or would be they be deported?

“That’s a question for the politicians…” replied Ray, who was once investigated for 18 months by police in Bedford for allegedly inciting racial hatred on his blog Lionheart – although he was never formally charged.

He boasted that the Birmingham demonstration – and a similar event in London’s Whitechapel on the same day – marked the beginning of a new movement.

“This is only the start of people coming together to fight back against Islamic extremists on the streets”.

With the group planning a further visit to Brum on August 8, it will be interesting to see what action – if any – the Police take.

Inciting religious hatred is, of course, a crime – and an organisation which claims that every active member of a mainstream religion is waging a battle against their own country is, at best, flirting with the limits of free speech.

The Stirrer

Rotten Borough?

The following article is taken from the popular and respected West Midland The Stirrer website. We're reproducing it to stimulate debate amongst our own visitors and supporters on the reasons for the apparent electoral growth of the BNP in isolated areas like Stoke-on-Trent and its continuing decline in other parts of the country.

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Professor Mick Temple sends a despatch from his Potteries homeland, where the BNP have made serious electoral inroads, and have promised to use the high profile manslaughter of one of their members as a rallying cry. All this and a highly critical report of their local council too.

The British media have turned their gaze towards Stoke-on-Trent this week. And their spotlight, superficial or not, has apparently revealed that there is something rotten in the state of the Potteries.

The recent electoral success of the BNP led to a major article in the Guardian, calling Stoke the city that ‘embraced’ the BNP.

A manslaughter trial with racist overtones – BNP leader Nick Griffin attended the funeral and the victim’s coffin was carried by BNP members – offered further evidence of serious racial problems in the city.

And the Local Government Commission’s highly critical report on Stoke’s politics was a serious indictment of the way the council has been run and on the behaviour of the mainstream political parties. Their failure to work together and their failure to engage the public were posited as contributing factors to the rise of extremist politics and the BNP’s success in winning nine council seats.

All this negativity is in danger of damping down the city’s euphoria since Stoke City won promotion to the Premiership – and the feel-good factor has been felt by everyone, even including those who support Burslem’s football team.

Much more importantly, it is contributing to the widely held view of Stoke as a rotten place to live, rife with sub-standard housing, low-paid jobs and racist attitudes.

Stoke-on-Trent does not deserve this reputation. I’ve lived in many places, abroad and in England. And I’ve never lived anywhere where I have felt more welcome, safe and ‘at home’.

The city has been badly run. It does have some social problems – especially low levels of educational achievement by comparison with similar cities. But – and despite the BNP’s success – the city is no more racist than any other. Our streets are not teeming with racial tensions.

The problems of poor housing, schooling and employment prospects mean that some sections of the population feel undervalued and disenfranchised. Traditional rulers Labour have failed to respond in any meaningful manner – the BNP’s pavement politics have been rewarded with electoral success in traditional white working-class areas, from a population which wants to protest against Labour and has nowhere else to go.

Elected mayor Mark Meredith’s initial response to the criticisms and recommendations of the Local Government Commission’s report – essentially, that was the past, we’ve improved so much now, this report does not describe the current situation - does not fill one with confidence that the shrinking Labour group will be able to re-establish themselves as the natural party of government in Stoke.

And the consequences of that failure for Stoke could be more BNP gains and even perhaps victory in a future mayoral election. That really would be a disaster for a city that deserves so much better.

The Stirrer