Councillor reassured over march

YORK council’s new cabinet member for crime and community safety has held an urgent meeting with the city’s chief police officer ahead of a major commemorative march.

By The Newsroom

Published 13th Jun 2011, 12:08 BST

Councillor Sandy Fraser says he is anxious to address safety issues and met with Superintendent Lisa Winward to discuss the public order implications around a planned Orange Order march in York on Saturday.

Such marches are a common sight on the streets of Scotland and particularly Northern Ireland, where the more controversial routes through Catholic areas have led to rioting in the past.

However the marches are a relative novelty in England with organisers expecting about 250 members to attend.

Coun Fraser said: “I sought and received her assurances that sufficient policing levels would be in place in just over a week’s time for the planned Orange Order march through the city.

“I also asked that appropriate action be taken in instances of provocative behaviour from any individual or group on the day. I was reassured by her response”.

Coun Fraser added that he had discussed recent changes to the neighbourhood policing teams.