Police will have special powers at Denby BNP festival
POLICE have invoked special legal powers to help control and
potentially arrest protestors at this weekend's British
National Party festival.
More than a thousand anti-BNP activists had at one stage
been expected to protest outside Red, White and Blue in
Codnor-Denby Lane, Denby, on Saturday.
But Derbyshire police now have Government permission to
limit the number of campaigners and their activities using the
Public Order Act.
The protest must now involve no more than 700 people meeting
at Codnor Market Place at 9am.
From 11.45am, activists will be allowed to march along the
A6007 Heanor Road to its junction with Codnor-Denby Lane, where
the procession will halt.
A "designated protest point" will be set up outside the
festival for up to 30 anti-BNP protestors between 1 and
4pm.
A police spokesman said: "The procession will be marshalled
and accompanied by police officers.
"If there are more than 700 people and they don't stick to
the designated plan we will negotiate the organisers.
"If they don't listen, protestors will potentially be liable
to arrest."
After the 30 have broken away the remaining number will
return to Codnor Market Place for a rally.
Assistant Chief Constable, Peter Goodman, said: "We are
trying to find a balance between allowing legitimate protest
and maintaining public safety and minimising inconvenience to
people who live or work in the affected area.
"We hope that people will abide by the law and enjoy the
opportunity of voicing their opinions in safety."
Saturday's protest has been organised by trade unions, Unite
and Unison, Derby Racial Equality Council, and national groups
Unite Against Fascism, Love Music Hate Racism and Stop the
BNP.
Red, White and Blue will run from Friday to Sunday and has
been described as a "family event" by the BNP.
Click on the button to share this story with a
friend
6 Comments
by jake, leicester
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 2:58PM
“Err Dave, the right wing Russian government has far more in common with the BNP than any anti-fascist campaigners. In fact Russia is one of the worst places for the rise of the far right. You seem to be living in the 1980s, Russia is no longer communist you know??! Bless. In fact if you want to see what a prospective BNP government would be like look no further.”
by Dave Strickson, thurrock
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 1:05PM
“They should be protesting instead outside the Russian embassy against the acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing that their comrades are committing in Georgia.”
by Paul, Eastwood
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 1:02PM
“The event organisers have a link to ANTIFA on their website which suggests that the event will not be peaceful at all. ANTIFA have been calling for violent attacks.
You can see the link on the right hand side of their page. Just look on a search engine for no bnp festival. It's hosted on wordpress.com
On ANTIFA's website they have bragged about the criminal damage they have caused while attacking a pensioners property.
This then begs the question, why are trade unions supporting a protest organised by people associated with ANTIFA, and why have the police given them permission to let 30 protestors outside the site entrance when because of these links, the group will likely be made up of people from ANTIFA hell bent on causing violence. I also note how the police never mention in this article how they are going to police these 30 protestors. Away from the event in Codnor, 700 protestors can't do much harm but have the opportunity to voice their opposition but 30 potentially violent extremists right outside the site entrance could cause much damage.
I really think in the interests of public safety that the protest outside the site entrance should be banned. I however have no disagreement with the protest in Codnor, after all we live in a democracy. I just feel two opposing groups should be kept apart, especially as one could contain members of ANTIFA and the other will contain parents with children who on the Lancaster Unity blog (who are supporting the protest) have been discussed as potential targets for violence.”
by Mr Bronson, belper
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 12:56PM
“'Lefties' have as much right to protest as the BNP have the their right to their poxy little gathering. Perhaps both sides should agree to disagree.”
by Richard, Oakwood
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 12:53PM
“are they left wing then? i always thought with the ammount of going on about some of there cases they would be very right wing? there is aot of comparrison with nazi imperialism and that surely would make them right wing extreamists if so.
i don't see anything wrong with them having there event so long as they keep it polite and normal, it should be viewed as just a large group having a BBQ.
in honesty there all as bad as each other and all i'm waiting for is a candidate from the monster raving looney party as they can't do much worse.”
by mickey, London
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 12:37PM
“Get a life you lefty losers!
Nobody agrees with you apart from your clique of deluded fellow lefties. Why are there 2 bnp councillors on Amber valley council if the local electorate doesn't like the bnp?
Do you people understand what 'VOTING' is?”