Bedfordshire PCC, Olly Martins, says costs of far right protests "untenable"

The website, Police Oracle, reports that following the demonstration by Britain First in Luton at the weekend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, Olly Martins, has written to the Home Secretary to state the cost of policing far right protests is “untenable” and that the Government ought to give attention to the “proper balance” between the right of far right groups to organise protests and the protection of local communities.

The Britain First protest in Luton on Saturday, which resulted in three arrests including one on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and one on suspicion of harassment, involved 15 police forces and over 500 officers which will need to be met out of the Bedfordshire police budget.

PCC Olly Martins has written to the Home Secretary to raise concerns about the impact of far right protests on local budgets, the local economy and community relations in Bedfordshire.

He wrote:

“It cannot therefore be right, in this time of austerity and police funding reductions, that a small force such as Bedfordshire and its local taxpayers must bear the burden of these extremist demonstrations.

“I must report that it is becoming increasingly challenging to keep communities in Luton constructively engaged when repeatedly confronted with the hate and Islamophobia of BF [Britain First] and the extreme right. Together with the distress and disruption that accompanies their demonstrations.”

Injunctions successfully secured by Bedfordshire police ahead of the Britain First demonstration included banning BF leader, Paul Golding, and deputy leader, Jayda Fransen, from entering any mosque or Islamic centre, publishing, distribution or displaying any words or images which are likely to stir up racial hatred and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour which may cause alarm or distress to any person.

Britain First were also banned from carrying or displaying any sign or banner with the words ‘No more mosques’ or ones to that effect.

An injunction to prevent Britain First from entering Luton was denied with the High Court judge, Justice Knowles, stating: “Of course ‘Britain First’ comes across as fundamentally and obviously wrong, and even extremist itself, when it focuses on Muslims…But in dealing with it, all must strive not to inhibit the freedom to express views, the freedom to demonstrate and the freedom to organise politically. Indeed it is sometimes through allowing views to be heard, that error in views can be exposed. And it is sometimes through allowing the opportunity for support to be shown, that lack of support can be exposed.”

Last month, Chief Inspector Phil Dolby of Dudley police told an open public meeting that he was preparing a report for the Home Secretary on the impact of repeat demonstrations in Dudley by far right groups in the hope that a firmer response to the misery caused to local communities by far right protests might follow.