Dewsbury

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Friday February 5, 2016

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No. 723

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After the far-right Britain First protest in Dewsbury, the English Defence League warns of another rally in the town ... and earns a swift rebuke:

THINK AGAIN! A hailstorm lashes Britain First protestors and police during last Saturday’s far-right rally in Dewsbury town centre By David Miller ARRESTS were made in connection with a Britain First rally in Dewsbury – and now another far-right group, the English Defence League, could return to the town. A man was detained at the railway station last Saturday on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. Four other men were arrested for alleged racially-aggravated public order offences at Barnsley railway station.

And Dewsbury could now be targeted again by the EDL. Their protest in 2012 cost taxpayers £500,000 in police and council costs, plus lost town centre trade. Last Saturday afternoon the EDL’s Dewsbury division announced a protest in response to what it claimed was police “intimidation” and “persecution”. A statement on their Facebook page said the date and time is yet to be confimed. The post added of the police “... no matter what happens, the only thing that matters is to guarantee the protection of the Muslim community.

“It’s therefore announced that due to their intimidation and persecution of our members, the senior officer has been issued with a written confirmation that the English Defence League will hold a regional demonstration in Dewsbury.” There was a further dig at police after counter-protesters allegedly put placards on the railings of the war memorial gardens. Despite claims of written confirmation, the police and Kirklees Council said they had not been formally told of the new protest threat. Simon Cope, co-ordinator of the North Kirklees Green Party, said: “I would ask the

Picture: Mike Clark EDL to think again about what they are doing and why. Policing the Britain First march cost tens of thousands of pounds of scarce public money. And it led to shops either shutting or having fewer customers than usual because people were put off by the possibility of trouble. “That is the last thing Dewsbury’s devastated town centre needs when it is just finally enjoying a small recovery.” Police said about 120 Britain First members attended last Saturday’s rally in freezing conditions.

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