Fears grow over EDL city protest
Police contain an earlier EDL march
POLICE patrols are to be stepped up around Preston’s mosques on Saturday as around 1,200 protesters head into the city to take part in two demonstrations.
Chief Supt Tim Jacques, head of Preston Police, revealed the plans ahead of the demonstration by the English Defence League and counter demonstration by Unite Against Facism and the Trade Union Council.
The protests coincide with the PNE v Millwall game at Deepdale.
Police officers’ days off have been cancelled and specially trained public order officers are being drafted in from other parts of the county to support the policing operation, which will see the mounted branch, road police and other units taking to city centre streets.
The two groups of demonstrators will be in the city’s Flag Market with temporary low level fencing to separate them.
Today Chief Supt Jacques said it would be one of the biggest police operations seen in Preston in recent years but insisted the city was “open for business as usual” on Saturday - the fourth week before Christmas and the first official Christmas shopping weekend.
He also moved to calm fears of violence that has been seen in similar demonstrations in other cities.
He said: “We are working with the community and police officers are going to be in the areas where the mosques are on Saturday to reassure people.
“We have had lots of meetings with the mosques and are working with the demonstration organisers in terms of minimising the impact. There are no planned demonstrations outside any mosques but it is in our minds.
“Our number one priority is keeping people in the city safe and to minimise disruption on a busy Saturday before Christmas.”
He said the force would be making a proportionate response to any threats and added: “There’s no doubt there will be a lot of police officers in Preston and in surrounding areas. All the information we have suggests we can facilitate two lawful and peaceful demonstrations.
“It will be one of the biggest operations seen in Preston in terms of planning but on terms of what we are dealing with it is smaller - in the past we have dealt with 6,000 Premier League fans coming into the city.”
We have to look at the context of where we are as a city - some of the backdrop of the places of previous demonstrations are different. Preston is a pretty cohesive city so our starting point is different to other places.”
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
WhoWho
Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 11:16 AMgreyphox I am personally very mad at the British government (not Islam or Muslims in general) and our laws of how easy it is to sue somebody or something. If the country wasn't such a soft touch in this respect then the Muslims who burned the poppy would have been prosecuted for treason. If another country let me live in theirs I would respect there traditions, well said greypox, I think most people would agree with you. Our Government and local councils are letting us down big time. But I have to say most people are in fear of speaking about Islam, and WE ALL KNOW WHY
WhoWho
Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 11:06 AMtimmi1 - the majority of Muslims that I know are against extremism from all faiths - let alone Islam. I agree with the statement above. But to me the problem is that most Muslims will not protest against Islam extremism. If they did I believe the EDL or similar groups would not exist. To me its seem the UAF group are just as bad. We don't like the EDL so we will justify behaving the same, of course this is because we are right and so that makes it OK!
The Green Man
Thursday, November 25, 2010 at 11:31 AMi am neither for or against the E.D.L or the U.A.F groups that are going to demonstrate in Preston on Saturday. What i am against is people saying other people cannot protest. Protest all you like, whichever group,colour,creed or sexual orientation. But if you break the law, ie vandalise the shops or street furniture or if you assault anyone, well you should be arrested and dealt with by the courts. It hasn't passed my attention the when the E.D.L demonstrate, so do the U.A.F group. So most of the handbags at twenty paces we see on the news is these two groups venting their spleens on each other. I say put up fences, corral both groups into the flag market and then sell tickets to the public so we can see them vent their spleens and fists and anything else that comes to hand, at each other. Good luck to the Police and the authorities in controlling the idiots that cause trouble , But which idiots allowed both groups permission to Demonstrate on the same day as the Millwall match. No doubt the BBC and Granada will have the best vantage points so make sure to tune in over the weekend to see Preston dragged through the mire.
greyphox
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 12:52 PMI get why the alot of people are angry with the muslim extremists, But unfortunately narrow minded muppets (EDL) seem to tar all Muslims with the same brush when they do something like they did the other week with the poppy burning. when they should hyave been mad at the goverment and our soft laws. Life isn't that simple like black and white... EDL there is a massive grey area in the middle. The vast majority of all muslims I have ever met are very nice hard working respectable people just like all walksraces etc... but of course in any walk of liferace.religion theres always dipsticks! I am personally very mad at the british goverment (not islam or muslims in general) and our laws of how easy it is to sue somebody or something. If the country wasn't such a soft touch in this respect then the muslims who burned the poppy would have been prosecuted for treason. If another country let me live in theirs I would respect there traditions, laws and ways and If I didn't I would keep it to myself and be grateful they let me in. How they got away with that in our nations capital on that day is just beyond me when there were 90 year old plus men close by crying at all there memories from the horror they all went through for our freedom to have to hear that coming from an extremeists megaphone is just disgusting. EDL you may think your making a difference but until your sat in David (pillock) camerons chair you are just wasting your life, time and stress. If you want to be taken more seriously, maybe don't get violent at the marches? don't have a majority of members that are skin heads with bulldogs, england and the like tattoed all over them because i think we have all seen that appearance in some other groups before ermmm national front etc maybe? anyway to summarise theres always bad eggs in every walk of life but unfortaunatel our goverment n laws are letting muslim extremeist take the michael and it is very wrong but what can we do? abu hanzar burnt the union jack in hyde park years ago n nothing happended... if i did that in somebody elses country I would expect to be prosecuted by that countries goverment under there laws. so why edl? what difference is it going to make exactly? hardly any, plus I do not want to be tarred as a rasict which i would if i joined edl. your flyers says 'edl is not a rasict organisation' no no not at all you 'really' dont seem like it in reputation or appearance. your all just wasting your lifes in my opinion and I will be staying well away from the city centre on saturday as I have better things to do with my time like spend time with my children.
greyphox
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 12:52 PMI get why the alot of people are angry with the muslim extremists, But unfortunately narrow minded muppets (EDL) seem to tar all Muslims with the same brush when they do something like they did the other week with the poppy burning. when they should hyave been mad at the goverment and our soft laws. Life isn't that simple like black and white... EDL there is a massive grey area in the middle. The vast majority of all muslims I have ever met are very nice hard working respectable people just like all walksraces etc... but of course in any walk of liferace.religion theres always dipsticks! I am personally very mad at the british goverment (not islam or muslims in general) and our laws of how easy it is to sue somebody or something. If the country wasn't such a soft touch in this respect then the muslims who burned the poppy would have been prosecuted for treason. If another country let me live in theirs I would respect there traditions, laws and ways and If I didn't I would keep it to myself and be grateful they let me in. How they got away with that in our nations capital on that day is just beyond me when there were 90 year old plus men close by crying at all there memories from the horror they all went through for our freedom to have to hear that coming from an extremeists megaphone is just disgusting. EDL you may think your making a difference but until your sat in David (pillock) camerons chair you are just wasting your life, time and stress. If you want to be taken more seriously, maybe don't get violent at the marches? don't have a majority of members that are skin heads with bulldogs, england and the like tattoed all over them because i think we have all seen that appearance in some other groups before ermmm national front etc maybe? anyway to summarise theres always bad eggs in every walk of life but unfortaunatel our goverment n laws are letting muslim extremeist take the michael and it is very wrong but what can we do? abu hanzar burnt the union jack in hyde park years ago n nothing happended... if i did that in somebody elses country I would expect to be prosecuted by that countries goverment under there laws. so why edl? what difference is it going to make exactly? hardly any, plus I do not want to be tarred as a rasict which i would if i joined edl. your flyers says 'edl is not a rasict organisation' no no not at all you 'really' dont seem like it in reputation or appearance. your all just wasting your lifes in my opinion and I will be staying well away from the city centre on saturday as I have better things to do with my time like spend time with my children.
lancs-guy
Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at 08:09 AMRiver, Comments are different to actions. Talk gently and carry a great big stick, that will be the Police moto for the day. I personally know how seriously the Police have prepared for this event, they have resource in place for worse case scenario. But they have to try and remain positive in the press, if they say they have shed loads of Operation Support Units in backup that wil worry the public, and also probably big up the EDL.
adamb
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 10:16 PMOutsiders coming to our city to cause trouble. Prestonians should stand firm and tell these yobs to stick their fascist ideas where the sun doesn't shine ! The last time these idiots held a demo and relied on local support was at the KFC at Deepdale Shopping Park, about 15 muppets embarassingly turned up and the EDL soon removed the advert for the demo from their website claming they didn't organise it ! Now we will be plagued with coach loads of outsiders from various towns and cities trying to whip up tensions, but we should all stand together, Prestonians are wise to their tricks and we won't fall for their bait.
jonh
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 07:24 PM"Why do people feel the need to protest – why do people feel the need to stop the protest? " Well, homophobia seems to be a quoted reason for protesting against Muslims, so when will the EDL be protesting outside of Christian churches given that Christianity, in theory, is also anti-gay? Not to mention the Christian church's attitude towards women bishops, hardly open and tolerant. Hypocrisy all round!! The EDL hate coloured people and hate immigrants - seemingly forgetting that is what they are too.
timmi13
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 03:05 PMWho is the EDL demonstrating against? the government or the Muslims or who else? The whole ideology is flawed as they claim to be against militant Islam - the majority of Muslims that I know are against extremism from all faiths - let alone Islam. You have a total of 50-100 idiots who burn poppies and rant and rave against our troops - yet the EDL (and also the press such as Daily Star, Mail, Express, The Sun) put 1.8 million Muslims under the sam banner. This is why the EDL will never be given any credibility due to their bigoted, extreme and violent views.
River
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 02:40 PMRecent comments about the forthcoming EDL demo from the police seem far too complacent: Surely they have seen what has happened everywhere else the EDL go when they decide to stage one of their so-called 'peaceful' protests? None of the previous EDL demonstrations have been peaceful or lawful. They have indulged in racial abuse, thrown bottles and other items, and toured cities and towns looking for mosques and Asians to attack. When they haven't been able to find other groups to fight, they've even been known to fight among themselves. What is good news is that the numbers attending EDL rallies in recent months has been declining as more people begin to see them for the violent far-right thugs that they are. The local police have said “It will be one of the biggest operations seen in Preston in terms of planning but on terms of what we are dealing with it is smaller - in the past we have dealt with 6,000 Premier League fans coming into the city.” The police are naively complacent to be comparing the EDL with football fans. Football fans are overwhelmingly well behaved. This group's track record shows that they are an utterly different kettle of fish. Much has been made of the EDL's 'right' to demonstrate. They may have a right to demonstrate, but they have no right to incite racial hatred or violence, which they will certainly do once they disembark from their coaches. Of course we Prestonians have a right to demonstrate too: Prestonians, whatever their religious or racial background have a right to demonstrate together that we reject the EDL it's violence and it's racism. We won't let them provoke us into hating each other, if anything it will provoke us to seek unity and alternatives to a social and economic system that encourages racism and division to fester.
Concerned resident and Parent
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 01:31 PM@ Timmi13 why would you think your opinion is right and every body else is wrong? I don’t condone violence but throughout history the tollpuddle martyres, emily Pankhurst martin Luther King etc have all had to fight to be heard above people like you who want to stiffle free speech and the right to express opinion, No doubt you think Nelson Mandella a hero despite been put in prison for acts of violence, or perhaps you agree when Hitler told people what to think and burnt all the books HE didn’t like – I agree violence isnt the answer but ask your self why ? Why do people feel the need to protest – why do people feel the need to stop the protest? Why are we in a situation where we have things to demonstrate about And why has the word integration been subtley or deviously replaced with multi cultural when these issues are discussed
gazzer1974
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 12:48 PMThere's plenty more of this to come in the next few years. People are very fed up.
timmi13
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 11:11 AM'All the information we have suggests we can facilitate two lawful and peaceful demonstrations.' Is Tim Jacques not aware of EDL and what they get upto - type EDL into youtube and this show's the thuggish and violent behaviour that happens when EDL meet up for demo's or marches. They are nothing but a violent, extremist group with undoubted racial elements and are in no way peaceful or lawful. Their own leader is an ex-BNP member and has been charged only yesterday for assualting a Police officer - along with numerous offences committed in the past. Now can someone please tell me EDL are planning a lawful and peaceful demonstration???? The proof is in the pudding - I recommend all to stay away from the Flag market on Saturday.
Doktorb
Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 09:07 AMI am concerned that the meeting place - in front of the Harris Library - will prove too large a place to successfully contain the EDL protestors. There is every threat that certain "rat runs", including the enterance to the Harris itself, could be turned into hiding holes for those intent on causing violence or criminal damage. What has been put in place to ensure roads running from Fishergate to Avenham are not used as similiar "escape routes" ?
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