Minister urged to ban marches as city fears violence on streets

The English Defence League (EDL) intends to demonstrate in Bradford on Saturday August 28 and Unite Against Fascism has planned a protest in the city on the same day.

The decision by Bradford Council to seek a marching ban follows a formal request by West Yorkshire Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison.

Sir Norman said he was taking the action after considering the "understandable concerns of the community".

The move follows a high-profile campaign in the city to stop the EDL march, with fears it could provoke a violent reaction to rival the riots which shook the city nine years ago.

But both the chief constable and the council have stressed a ban on marching would not stop either group holding a static protest.

Bradford Council chief executive Tony Reeves said: "I have received a letter from the chief constable asking the council to seek an order prohibiting the holding of any public procession in Bradford over the bank holiday weekend, August 28 to 30.

"We have considered the chief constable's views carefully and are writing to the Home Secretary to seek her permission to impose such an order.

"If the Home Secretary gives her permission for the council to impose an order prohibiting the holding of any public procession in Bradford, it would not prevent any static demonstration taking place, which would still be allowed as we have no legal powers to prevent static demonstrations.

"The police and the council are therefore continuing to work closely together to plan for and manage any processions or static demonstrations which could still take place in Bradford over the Bank Holiday weekend, August 28 to 30."

In a statement Sir Norman said: "Having carefully considered all the issues arising from any planned or unplanned march by protesters in Bradford on August 28, including the understandable concerns of the community, I have decided to apply to Bradford Council for an order prohibiting the holding of a public procession in Bradford on that day.

"We must, however, be clear in the distinction between the application for a ban to march, and the fundamental right to hold a static protest.

"If the Home Secretary agrees to a ban, it does not prevent static, visible, demonstrations taking place. But I believe that this would be less disruptive to residents of Bradford, and would enable the force to better manage the operation.

"We will continue to try to talk to all those who plan to demonstrate in Bradford and advise anyone intent on causing trouble to stay away."

The chief said policing the protest would be a "complex" operation. "I ask the people of Bradford to support the policing operation and avoid confrontation on the day.

"Whatever the outcome of the application for a ban, the police's role on the day will be to enable any peaceful protest to take place but we will not tolerate damage to the city, or violence."

The move to ban marching has been welcomed by the Hope Not Hate group, which has led the campaign against the EDL march. A 10,000-signature petition opposing the march was handed in to the Home Office earlier this month.

The EDL has staged a series of protests in cities across the UK in the past 18 months, with some erupting into violence.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We will carefully consider any application to ban a march that comes forward from Bradford Council balancing rights to protest against the need to ensure local communities and property are protected."