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EDL demo to go ahead in Bolton... EDL demo to go ahead in Bolton
By Paul Britton
The Manchester Evening News, 17/03/2010
IMAGE: EDL supporters in Stoke.
The English Defence League rally in Bolton will go ahead on Saturday after the Home Secretary said he had no power to ban it.
The council was hoping that Alan Johnson would outlaw the demonstration on safety grounds, fearing violence could erupt in the town centre.
A delegation of council chiefs and faith representatives including the Bishop of Bolton travelled to London to meet Alan Campbell, a parliamentary under-secretary of state responsible for crime reduction.
Hopes of a ban however have been dashed after Mr Johnson responded in a letter to say he was powerless to intervene.
The Home Secretary said he had examined all relevant law but the government had no power to prevent an assembly. Laws to ban marches do exist but the demonstration is expected to be static and confined to Victoria Square near Bolton Town Hall off Le Mans Crescent.
The leader of Bolton council said he was 'disappointed' at the news but said the Home Secretary had only 'limited powers'. Coun Cliff Morris said: "We and the faith and community leaders have done everything within our power to prevent this demonstration due to the risk of violence.
"We are disappointed that the Home Secretary has been unable to ban this demonstration, however we understand that under current law his powers are extremely limited. In the anticipation that a ban was unlikely, we have been working for some time with the police and local communities.
"We are confident that our excellent community relationships will not be harmed by this proposed demonstration and we urge local people not to be provoked into taking part in any counter-demonstration."
The government only has the power to ban a static assembly if it is on private property.
In the letter the Home Secretary said that the government supported the right of people to peacefully express their views in public under the principles of free speech.
He adds however that it must be balanced against the rights of local communities to go about their daily business without fear of intimidation.
The controversial far-right group describes itself as a peaceful, non-political group campaigning against 'militant Islam'.
Ugly scenes marked an EDL protest in Manchester last year, with 44 arrests and 10 injuries.
Further details about the specific policing operation were expected to be released Thursday.
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