Dewsbury community commended for response to EDL protest
Categories: Latest News
Monday July 02 2012
The Dewsbury Reporter and the Yorkshire Evening Post have both reported that a protest by the English Defence League and counter-protest by Unite Against Fascism on Saturday passed off largely without incident, however five people were arrested for minor incidents.
From the Yorkshire Evening Post:
“Police have praised members of the community in Dewsbury after a demonstration by the English Defence League (EDL) right-wing campaign group passed off without serious incident.
“Around 450 supporters of the EDL took part in Saturday’s (June 30) protest outside Dewsbury Town Hall.
“A counter-demo in Foundry Street organised by the Unite Against Fascism (UAF) group was attended by about 50 people.
“Police said five arrests were made for “minor incidents”.
“Kirklees Council leader Coun Mehboob Khan took to Twitter to condemn the EDL demo, saying it had cost taxpayers the “best part of £500,000”.
“A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said it was not yet possible to put a figure on the cost of Saturday’s policing operation but confirmed it had involved “significant resources”.
“The policing bill for protests in Leeds by the EDL and UAF in 2009 was £345,000.”
The police commended Dewsbury’s local community for their response to the EDL’s provocation, which allowed the protests to pass “peacefully, safely and without serious incident”.
The EDL have recently tried to create tension in Dewsbury by spreading rumours of kidnap attempts following the sentencing of nine men for charges relating to sex-grooming.