More police ready for rally by far-right protesters

EXTRA police officers will be on duty in a South Yorkshire village tomorrow to keep the peace during a rally by the English Defence League.

By The Newsroom

Published 18th Jul 2014, 06:41 BST

The far right EDL will hold a demonstration in Hexthorpe, near Doncaster, in the early afternoon and there will be a counter-protest by the group United Against Fascism (UAF).

South Yorkshire Police confirmed EDL demonstrators will gather from 11am near Doncaster railway station. At about 12.30pm, they will make their way along St Sepulchre Gate to march at 1pm into Hexthorpe on Urban Road before listening to speeches at the park near Albion Terrace.

Doncaster Superintendent Peter Norman said: “South Yorkshire Police has a duty to keep people and property safe and the public can be reassured that this is our priority. We have no legal power to ban the proposed protest and have a duty to respect individual’s rights to protest peacefully.

“Careful, detailed planning and regular communication with protest groups has taken place and together with the council, we are making every effort to minimise disruption.”