Britain First revives 'Christian patrols' in east London

Categories: Latest News
Tuesday January 20 2015
The Independent today reports on the latest effort by the far right organisation Britain First to stoke tensions in east London with their ‘Christian patrols’.
The far right group which has been behind a number of provocations, including ‘mosque invasions’ in towns and cities across the UK and campaigns against ‘Muslim grooming’.
The Independent reports that the group have revived their ‘Christian patrols’ in east London with a video on the group’s website showing footage of members driving around Brick Lane in Whitechapel handing out leaflets “calling for the banning of mosques and niqabs”.
Group leader, Paul Golding and former Rochester parliamentary candidate, Jayda Fransen, are seen approaching people with leaflets claiming that “Muslim patrols are operating in this area confiscating alcohol and harassing women”.
Golding is heard saying the leaflets are “pretty provocative to give out in a Muslim-occupied area”.
The video also shows Britain First activists describing the area in east London as “occupied London”.
Britain First has been described as the ‘new face of British fascism’. And it is interesting to note the type of individuals attracted to the group and its leadership. A report in The Times last year described the group as “explicitly Christian” noting the influence of its leader, a committed Christian, Jim Dowson. Dowson resigned from the group last summer in protest at the “unacceptable and unchristian” mosque invasion campaigns.
Given the reference to far right extremism in the letter sent by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to mosque leaders this week, might we expect Christian clergy to be advised to preach from the pulpits and “show these men of hate they have no place in our churches or any place of worship”?