 |
| Police during the EDL protest march in Leicester in October 2010 |
Pubs have been asked to close when the English Defence League stages a protest on Saturday.
Police have visited bars to urge them to support officers' efforts to ensure the day passes peacefully, by cutting the sale of alcohol to EDL supporters.
Senior officers believe alcohol played a significant role in the disorder which broke out among EDL supporters during a protest in Leicester in October 2010.
Officers visited licensees in the city centre and neighbourhoods including Hinckley Road and Braunstone Gate over the weekend to explain their reasons for the request.
The exact extent to which daytime trading hours will be affected is unclear.
It will be determined by the duration of the EDL's presence in the city on the day.
No venues have been asked to stay shut in the evening.
Licensees were handed a letter from the city's top officer, Chief Superintendent Rob Nixon, and Mayor of Leicester Sir Peter Soulsby – who are holding discussions with the EDL and Leicester Unite Against Fascism (UAF), which intends to hold a counter protest.
The joint signed letter said: "When the EDL held a protest in our city in October 2010, arrangements were made for them to drink in pubs and bars before their demonstration.
"You may have experienced first-hand the damage that was caused to some premises and witnessed the anti-social behaviour, which included bottle throwing.
"Feedback from local people, businesses and the way in which this was portrayed in the media was that allowing members of the EDL to drink was a significant contributory factor to the disorder.
"For this reason we are asking for your support to help us ensure that a peaceful demonstration takes place and there is minimum disruption to city centre businesses."
One city centre licensee, who asked not to be named, said: "We'll be closing for some of the day and it will cost us several hundred pounds in lost alcohol and food sales.
"But I can't see any alternative to closing. It's just not worth the risk.
"We're not happy but we saw what happened last time."
Another, who also did not want to be named, said: "We'll just have to take it on the chin.
"I don't see what choice the police have."
Police first announced last week that they hoped to restrict alcohol sales before, during and after the protest.
Sir Peter said yesterday: "We are learning from what happened last time, so we want to minimise opportunities for the people who are coming here to protest to get alcohol inside them."
The EDL and UAF have applied for permission to march through the city and to stage rallies, although no details of routes or times have been decided.
The authorities could apply to the Home Office for permission to ban marches, but said they were keeping an open mind on whether that would be justified. Static protests cannot be banned.
During the October 2010 static demonstration in Humberstone Gate East, protesters in a cordoned-off area reserved for the EDL pelted police with bottles, bricks and smoke bombs.
Several hundred broke through police lines and were involved in scuffles with youths.
Leicester Mercury
0 comments:
Post a Comment