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

BNP teacher's misconduct hearing postponed

A misconduct case against a North East teacher has been postponed because of police fears over racial tensions

Adam Walker, a member of the British National Party (BNP), is alleged to have posted critical comments against asylum seekers, immigrants and the “promotion” of homosexuality on the party’s website during a lesson. The former teacher at Houghton Kepier Sports College in Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, now faces being struck off the teaching register for unacceptable professional conduct.

A hearing at the General Teaching Council (GTC) offices was due to begin in central Birmingham today but has been adjourned after West Midlands Police raised concerns over “potential public order consequences”. Officers highlighted fears about disorder if Mr Walker’s supporters were to turn up and asked the GTC to consider holding the hearing elsewhere.

The call by police follows a violent clash between anti-fascist campaigners and the right-wing English Defence League in the city two weeks ago.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: “West Midlands Police requested a temporary adjournment of the General Teaching Council hearing amid concerns over public order. Previous hearings have attracted supporters of Mr Walker and counter protesters, and incidents of disorder have followed. Those incidents and current concerns from sectors of the community over the timing and venue of the hearing meant a postponement was the best option to ensure public safety.

“We acknowledge the committee’s concern that the matters relating to Mr Walker should be expedited as soon as possible at a later date or alternative venue. Officers are today making contact with a group which had been planning a protest outside the hearing to inform them of the adjournment.”

The allegation brought against Mr Walker by the GTC states that he engaged in unacceptable professional conduct by allegedly demonstrating views suggestive of racial and religious intolerance while using a school laptop.

The case against Mr Walker has already been adjourned several times. In November riot police were called to the GTC offices, where dozens of BNP supporters and anti-fascist activists had gathered. Adjourning the case, the GTC said it was “concerned about the length of time it is taking to progress this case” and said it “should not be subject to unnecessary delay”.

Mr Walker, a former soldier and karate expert, left his job at Houghton Kepier in 2007 after admitting using a school computer to access a BNP discussion forum. He faces becoming the first teacher in the country to be struck off the teaching register for religious intolerance if the GTC panel rules against him.

A new date for the hearing will be arranged in the next week and a decision on a new venue will be made.

Journal Live

Birmingham's politicians clash over EDL protests

EDL supporters are nazis? Whatever gives you that idea?
An EDL supporter snapped at last Saturday's Birmingham demo.

City leaders have rejected claims that they can ban the controversial English Defence League group whose protests sparked violence and disorder in Birmingham city centre last weekend.

Senior councillors, although united in condemnation of the troublemakers, clashed how to deal with the demonstrations which resulted in 90 arrests. City cabinet members Alan Rudge, in charge of equalities, and Ayoub Khan, responsible for community safety, were both quizzed over the handling of the protests during city council question time. Opposition Labour group leader Sir Albert Bore accused them of lacking the will to ban the EDL, saying the council did just that in 2001 when they successfully lobbied the Home Secretary to ban a rally by the National Front at a time when UK cities were rife with race riots.

Coun Bore said: “I am speaking on behalf of shoppers and visitors who had witnessed disorder on the streets of Birmingham for the third time this summer.”

He suggested that the demonstrations had been down played by the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat administration. “In similar circumstances in 2001 Birmingham City Council and West Midlands Police secured a ban on the National Front.”

But Coun Rudge insisted that, working with West Midlands Police, they had done everything they could. “Coun Bore is trying to make a party political issue of this. We have done all we can within the law for the good of this city. There is a Labour Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, and perhaps Coun Bore should ask him to ban the demonstrations. Our advice is that the police had no power to ban a static protest.”

He told the council that the police had done an excellent job to contain the trouble and blamed a tiny number of people for provoking violence, which had been blown out of proportion by the media. “99.9 per cent of the communities of Birmingham had nothing to do with these protests and are behind us.”

Coun Khan pointed out that the first EDL protest on July 4 had been ‘brushed away’ as there were no rival protests to provoke trouble, but the August and September demonstrations met with rival protests and each time further escalated into serious public disorder, bringing violence to the city centre.

“Members of the EDL wore T-shirts and chanted slogans targeting the Muslim community which provoked a response and led to the anti-social behaviour.

“No amount of planning and intelligence could prepare for that,” he added.

Birmingham Mail

Violence in Birmingham - authorities to blame

Racist and violent hooligans, the English Defence League, complete with BNP T-shirts

BBC video of the demo can be seen here

DCI Sue Southern of West Midlands police has tonight described the trouble on the streets of Birmingham as “unexpected”. Unfortunately it wasn’t and over 2,500 people who wrote in to protest to Birmingham City Council knew as much.

Violence in Birmingham – authorities to blame

Unfortunately violence erupted on the streets of Birmingham this afternoon as the hooligan followers of the English Defence League descended on the city centre. While reports are sketchy, it seems that the hooligans ignored agreements with police and ran through New Street. According to press reports at the height of the trouble over 250 were involved in the trouble.

Sadly it was all too predictable. For several days Searchlight and others have been warning the authorities of the potential trouble. The English Defence League is a collection of racist football hooligans from around the country and their sole intention is to whip up hatred. With several of its leaders already well known to the police as football hooligans it is hardly a surprise that violence has erupted today. However, despite the obvious the authorities repeatedly told us that they had the situation under control.

They did not and they should be held accountable. West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council have failed the people of Birmingham and should be held to account.

Hope not hate