EDL protest bill tops half-a-million pounds

11:19am Wednesday 21st July 2010 in News

EDL supporters clash with police at the Stafford Street site EDL supporters clash with police at the Stafford Street site

TAXPAYERS face an eyewatering bill of more than half-a-million pounds after the latest English Defence League (EDL) protest in Dudley.

The return of the controversial EDL, on Saturday July 17, cost Dudley Council £150,000 to fund additional staff plus facilities including toilets and fencing as well as preparation work in the protest zone.

West Midlands Police are also counting the cost of the rally, 900 officers from around the UK were involved in Operation Belvedere to contain an estimated 500 EDL members on Stafford Street car park and prevent confrontation with anti-fascist activists at a counter demonstration in Tower Street.

The force believes the operation will set the public back by £400,000.

Councillor Anne Millward, leader of Dudley Council, said: “Dudley Council does not have the powers to ban this protest but we have made it clear from the outset that we are opposed to the EDL and have worked closely with the police to do all we could to protect, reassure and support local people.”

Town traders were left paying a hefty price in lost business after many premises, including the market, closed amid fears the demonstration would become violent.

Cllr Millward said: “Honest, hard working people who run local shops and businesses have again been hit as hard as anyone by the EDL’s pointless protest.

“While we were encouraged to see some open for business, many were again forced to close.”

Trouble flared during the protest when a group of EDL supporters attempted to break through police lines and, later in the day, officers in riot gear clashed with protestors throwing cans, bottles and bricks.

There were also incidents away from the official protest site during the day.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “Around 20 offences have been recorded to date, of criminal damage caused to cars and premises.

“Amongst the premises attacked were residential homes around Alexandra Street, cars parked in roads surrounding Stafford Street, restaurants on Wolverhampton Street and the Hindu Temple.

“Many of these locations saw windows smashed, and damage caused to fencing. A couple of vehicles were damaged as they were targeted whilst being driven through the town.”

A total of 21 people were arrested during the protest for alleged offences including 17 for violent disorder, two for affray, one for a public order offence and one for possessing an offensive weapon.

Cllr Millward said: “Yet again this group of outside extremists have shown they are incapable of demonstrating peacefully and have brought public disorder and violence to our town.”

Comments(30)

The Villan says...
12:57pm Wed 21 Jul 10

I would get the council's lawyers to look at the possibility of claiming some or our money back from the EDL organisation.

Report this post »

flobknob says...
6:15pm Wed 21 Jul 10

I would get WMP to realise the real facts of what happened on Saturday be reported first before you start blaming the EDL. I was of the same option until last weekend and found that the reporting was biased and untrue. The reports of this protest has been done with creative editing coupled with a media lock down on what really hapened that day. Why don't UAF and the Mosque chip in considering they have 18 million to spare and have more or less made Dudley their own town anyway. It's their town 'after all' if they want it fixed let the community pay for the damage, no they only take and never give back. Headlines state EDL Protest 21 arrests it does not state who was arrested. FACT most of the arrests made that day were members of the UAF for being in possession of offensive weapons. EDL members did get arrested but for smoking dope. There has been no news coverage on the 6 innocent people aged 16 - 42 that got mowed down by a gang of asian youths in a 'FAMILY CAR' which left broken legs, feet and even a pelvis which indicates they might have been driven over, or the 14 year that was stabbed 4 times.

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
7:49pm Wed 21 Jul 10

The media is a joke. The WMP should be made to pay and some of them should be sacked! Wmp caused all the trouble and was against the edl protesting thats why they let muslims walk around attacking people and carrying wepons around. And didnt even allow the 2000 edl members who turned up to protest. I dunno why the police behavied so badly towards them, though it hasnt put them off from returning to dudley again

Report this post »

federico says...
11:49pm Wed 21 Jul 10

The Nazi scum of the EDL showed their true colours for all to see on Saturday. Smashing up a Hindu temple and attacking non-whites people in their cars.

The man in the car which ran over the EDL chavscum was trying to protect his family. If he had killed the chavscum they would have been elligible for a Darwin award.

Report this post »

ozpat says...
9:49am Thu 22 Jul 10

Bloody hell !!! 1/2 million quid eh would have been cheaper to have built the bloody mosque and have been done with it!

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
12:42pm Thu 22 Jul 10

federico wrote:
The Nazi scum of the EDL showed their true colours for all to see on Saturday. Smashing up a Hindu temple and attacking non-whites people in their cars. The man in the car which ran over the EDL chavscum was trying to protect his family. If he had killed the chavscum they would have been elligible for a Darwin award.
more like it was muslims attacking white people get your facts right. Actually the man who ran people over did it on purpose alot of people saw it and the driver next to him was a muslim

Report this post »

flobknob says...
1:06pm Thu 22 Jul 10

federico wrote:
The Nazi scum of the EDL showed their true colours for all to see on Saturday. Smashing up a Hindu temple and attacking non-whites people in their cars. The man in the car which ran over the EDL chavscum was trying to protect his family. If he had killed the chavscum they would have been elligible for a Darwin award.
I take it then that you actually saw this man deffending his family then? Or is this a option that has been formed from the edited and censored version of events that was dictated to the media to print for public consumption. Are you that naive that you actually think the truth could be printed? Everyone keeps on calling them nazi scum because that is what they are told to think though the media and if you think the UAF are all little angels without their own thugs that didn't carry knifes pieces of wood with nails sticking out hunting in packs for victims to pray on mostly innocent people because they wasn't in the protest your more naive than I thought was humanly possible. As for smashing up the hindu temple I can't say if they did or not but it would seem strange considering the EDL have hindu members and also sheiks seems a funny kind of racist group to me. I am not a follower of the EDL but I believe that if you report a story that it should be unbiased and contain the facts from both sides. I can't help feel that the EDL have been targeted you only have to look at the headlines. I feel that it is unfair on the majority of the members that are there for a peaceful protest to be judged because of receiving bad press. Thereprobably are a small few that attend with their own agenda but that happens everywhere and not to stero type are typically young males full of testosterone. Branding all of the EDL as racist thugs is just the same as saying every muslim is a terroriest

Report this post »

Shadeyman says...
1:08pm Thu 22 Jul 10

The policing was the cause of the problems in Dudley. I am an ex local councillor and i looked at this event with open eyes not political gain glasses.
The police put a section 14 order n the event at around 1400 hours. They were fully aware that the mainbody of the edl numbering over 1500 had not made it to the event due to the police trying to run them around Dudley hoping they would give up and go home. A convoy of 20 vans coaches and cars was taken by the police directly to the UAF demo thinking it was the EDL site.
They turned them around but too late many were off the coaches. Flash point1.
Convoy two taken to castlegate roundabout then turned away from the access to the demo and sent off toward Tipton, mistake 2 Three hundred EDL left their coaches and transport to get to the site, Flash point 2. Three to four hundred on foot from tipton due to the police stopping them from going by coach to the demo arrive at castlegate. Flash point 3.
Police send people up dual carridgeway towards the bridge without escorts knowing local asian youth numbering 300 are on the grass banking without police escort, asian youth attack and EDL fight back. Flash point 4.
Police on footbridge and roundabout do nothng and open warfare erupts with wepons and many people are hurt. Two riot police move to grass and stop as 40 EDL attack youth who are throwing bricks at people on dual carridgeway, mainly families.
Police send people into town centre unescorted to find their way to demo site, fully aware that asian youths are also in the centre unescorted, they clash just past the bus station where more people are injured. Flash point 5
Police send EDL back through town unescorted from the demo as they will not allow the coaches into the demo site to pick them up.
Fighting erupted all over Dudley and the police do not leave their elected placements.
Police send EDL back down the dual carridgeway to castleggate again unescorted knowing that the asian youth are still fighting with the edl on the dual carridgeway which th police have still not secured.
To make things worse the police shipped in six coach loads of local lads from tipton into the demo site with coaches they ordered yet kept the EDL out.
Looking at all the video and photographs i have noticed that in nearly all the pictures where their is violence you see hardly any one wearing EDL tops or shirts which is strange as all the EDL coaches i observed the people were wearing EDL regalia.
I am neither blind or stupid and what i saw was a police opperation that was a mitigated disaster and was without doubt the main cause of all the trouble that happened in Dudley. I spoke with variouse officers and i was informed that they were told to keep the edl away from the demo and run them around town till the disperced. I confirmed this with a senior officer from outside the dudley division and after showing my councillor id he told my they had the same instructions.
The peple of Dudley and the councill should have this investigated and when the information comes out and it will they should claim all the costs and losses through damage from the West midlands police. I would have no problem in sueing the WMP for causing this wide spread destruction and huge number of people being hurt and injured.
WMP you should hold you heads inshame.

Report this post »

flobknob says...
1:51pm Thu 22 Jul 10

Please don't forget that the EDL are open and honest about what there plans are. There are no under hand plans to kill, maim and hurt hundreds of innocent people carrying out their everyday routine. This attack had purpose behind it and was planned for maximum impact on the loss of human life. I wonder how much that bill came to when London was bombed? This also left some familes paying the ulitmate price.
It works both ways....

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
3:43pm Thu 22 Jul 10

i agree with what you both say. It doesnt seem fair that none of the papers or media have reported this. The muslims they make sick attacking people men or women. And the police well they should be sacked. Im sure that the truth will come out soon as loads of people saw what happened and people have evidence

Report this post »

The Villan says...
4:39pm Thu 22 Jul 10

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:

It would apper that my assumptions were wrong, based on the comments on people who were there on Saturday.
Surely, in the interest of unbiased reporting and using investigative journalism, these unsubstantiated claims should be looked into and reported.
It is in the interest of the general public and the reader to get a fair story.

Report this post »

federico says...
12:15am Fri 23 Jul 10

What a bunch of clowns you EDL types are! all fans of Raoul Moat too I bet!

The EDL's leader "Tommy Robinson" (real name: Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) is on the leaked list of BNP members, he is also a criminal. He did 12 months for attacking a police officer. Another prominent EDL figure is Jeff Marsh a violent criminal with convictions for stabbings. Then there is Chris Renton - a life long neo-Nazi, and umpteen other football hoolies, Ulster loyalist terrorists etc etc

But of course such a bunch of assorted thugs couldn't possibly be responsible for any violence!

I suppose the tooth-fairy smashed-up the Hindu temple?

Report this post »

flobknob says...
2:24am Fri 23 Jul 10

federico wrote:
What a bunch of clowns you EDL types are! all fans of Raoul Moat too I bet! The EDL's leader "Tommy Robinson" (real name: Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) is on the leaked list of BNP members, he is also a criminal. He did 12 months for attacking a police officer. Another prominent EDL figure is Jeff Marsh a violent criminal with convictions for stabbings. Then there is Chris Renton - a life long neo-Nazi, and umpteen other football hoolies, Ulster loyalist terrorists etc etc But of course such a bunch of assorted thugs couldn't possibly be responsible for any violence! I suppose the tooth-fairy smashed-up the Hindu temple?
Federico you are intitled to express an option.... That's what's GREAT about Britian don't you think? Everyone gets a voice and not just your brown friends (aka Tooth=fairy)... I can all understand the reason why there might be a reason for venom and not blood that's running though your veins. Hay with a name like 'Federico Freak' it don't sound very British... You don't no anything, your just as bad as the loud mouthed **** that you have just slated. Maybe you have had issues urself with the young youth of today serving pizza, I don't no, but doesn't everybody nowadays. Get a grip and grow some you clown. Does it matter who the leader is of the EDL? Can you remember the name of that bloke something Larden that wants to blow everything up.. Remind me to forward your name to him for rugsack duty. I would rather have someone that did a simple stabbing (you are making me put words in mouth now) than someone who's job it was to make sure that herion is pumpied all round the west midlands. I can see your well educated and obviouslyit has been here now looking at the stats.

Report this post »

federico says...
10:46am Fri 23 Jul 10

@flobknob

"urself", "rugsack", "hay" ... oh dear.

If you EDL types had paid attention in school and mastered the basics of English grammar and spelling, you might have been able to get jobs that didn't involve asking people "Do you want fries with that?".

Report this post »

federico says...
11:01am Fri 23 Jul 10

Gian Narad, the temple’s treasurer says that “Fifty or 60 of the EDL broke down the fencing outside to get into the temple grounds. They threw bricks and stones at the building, smashing three windows. They also broke all the handrails and used them to attack the building. It was frightening for the people inside at the time.”

But I suppose he must have mistaken the tooth-fairy for an EDL gang.

Report this post »

May_Flower says...
1:14pm Fri 23 Jul 10

If a public protest is going to cost taxpayers money, why do the protesters not have to foot the bill?

The EDL are nothing but a nuisance and an embarrassment to the good people of Dudley. Even if you disagree with a culture of people, using violence to damage their property is NOT going to make people more sympathetic to your opinion.

To me, the EDL is the adult equivalent of the playground bully that goes around smashing up other children's toys because they are jealous. I have no respect for them at all.

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
4:59pm Fri 23 Jul 10

Its not just edl causing all problems having protests its uaf having protests 2. uaf should not be allowed to protest next time the edl come back all they do is cause trouble and make the edl look bad. And you can ban protests anyway so I dont get why everyone is moaning

Report this post »

Mr r weale says...
10:40pm Fri 23 Jul 10

Ooh out come the tricks, attacking someones spelling and grammar, and trying to stop the debate with words like 'Nazi', 'Scum', the whole sorry affair shows that we are currently governed by incompetents, who seem to have the wishes of the minority firmly imbedded in their tiny moral crusading minds. If people were listened to in the first place when this whole business started then the EDL or the UAF wouldn't be in Dudley. A quango from Bristol caused this sequence of events, by over-ruling the original decision made by Dudley Councillors.

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
10:55pm Fri 23 Jul 10

I dont get why the councillors round the dudley area keep moaning about all this when they are not doing anything about the mosque. All they seem to do is moan about protests and how much they are costing. Anne miilward keeps moaning about edl saying there costing money to taxpayers and saying there not welcome in dudley. That isnt true because alot of people want the edl to come back to dudley local people includin myself. We wouldnt be in this situation if something would had been done and it still isnt now. Plus last saturday traders didnt have to shut up they could of been open for business so dont see how they can blame them again for lossing trade to shops. Also the markets was shut because people who worked on there wanted to go to the protest.

Report this post »

Mr r weale says...
11:02pm Fri 23 Jul 10

When the Romans invaded Britain, and turned most of it into a province of Rome, did people who lived here then say "ooh, look it's the 'British Romans', very nice people they can show us how best to live" ? Unlike today when we are told 'British Muslims' are the bees knees, and it is very British to wear a Burka, and it's very British to go against the wishes of the people who've bled and sweated to build this country, only to give it away to satisfy the wishes of another minority, except this minority wants salvation for what the British Empire did to the world. I don't want bans it's not Democratic to ban something. I don't want to ban the Burka, I want it worn in it's country of origin and it's definately not Britain, so it stands to reason it's not British to want a mosque either.

Report this post »

federico says...
1:58am Sat 24 Jul 10

"Ooh out come the tricks, attacking someones spelling and grammar..."

That isn't a trick. The fact the EDL apologists are semi-literate dimwits is highly pertinent.

What we have here are people who are failures in their own lives looking for scapegoats. The EDL leadership are largely composed of middle-aged criminals and hooligans - men who have simply not grown up and who want the adrenaline rush of violence. The foot soldiers are in their teens or twenties and have gone through school without mastering the basic education that would allow them to have any decent prospects.

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
1:53pm Sat 24 Jul 10

the Burka is another issue but to be honest I think it should be banned. The edl was only formed because lack of goverment doing anything about the spread of islam in england so they only have there self to blame for the way the things are. People are starting to see whats happening, it has opened my eyes to see now how english people are getting treated like second class citizens to them

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
1:58pm Sat 24 Jul 10

but yeah the edl does attract yobs and hooligans who just turn up for a fight. I dont think the whole of edl should be categorised into just yobs. All the pictures that have be printed in papers over the last week that shows people fighting in all pictures you hardly see any of them wearing edl clothing its local people who was fighting last week. And I dont think they cant do anything about attracting yobs to protests cause cant stop people turning up

Report this post »

federico says...
4:30pm Sat 24 Jul 10

Why an organisation led by such fine upstanding citizens like Steven "GBH" Yaxlex-Lennon, Jeff "Stabber" Marsh, Chris "Nazi boy" Renton and Allan "Stuff 50 of em in a shipping container and don't worry if they all suffocate" Hetherington-Cleverl
ey could possibly attract yobs is such a mystery.

Report this post »

Mr r weale says...
5:07pm Sat 24 Jul 10

federico wrote:
Why an organisation led by such fine upstanding citizens like Steven "GBH" Yaxlex-Lennon, Jeff "Stabber" Marsh, Chris "Nazi boy" Renton and Allan "Stuff 50 of em in a shipping container and don't worry if they all suffocate" Hetherington-Cleverl ey could possibly attract yobs is such a mystery.
you have em in you ranks too Federico.

Report this post »

ozpat says...
1:34am Sun 25 Jul 10

The fundamental reason demonstrating parties such as the EDL exist is due in part to the threat of the indigenous peoples right to customs and traditions being taken away, and being made to be second class in their own country. Now I am not saying that a specific race and being born in the UK should distinguish anyone from saying they are british and be proud to stand up and say and defend that,however the "britishness" for the want of a better word is to identify with its cultures traditions, belief structures and cultural values. To stand up against this and be "given" more than equal right to the indigenous people to protest against them because those sections of society may feel alienated is bizarre, ie, the St George flag, union jack, christian celebrations such as christmas being toned down in public so as not to offend are but some obvious examples which can contribute the rising alienation of its own countries peoples identity. The complexities of the social problems are exacerbated by religion , cultural and traditional differences, though I do feel that ironically the so called do-gooders and PC brigade who spout equity and fairness for all have heavily created this monster that exists today. The PC reasoning of redressing the balance for past historical inequity by today over addressing rights in favour of the minority sections, is perhaps why demonstration and bad feeling currently exist on both sides or the debate (or debacle). I currently no longer live in the UK and have made conscious efforts to assimilate to my host countries values beliefs etc rather than expecting it to be how I want it. Multiculturalism requires give and take from all, not just more take than give! Everyone should drop the PC lot and quickly or maybe its already to late! Sorry for the rant!!!

Report this post »

flobknob says...
12:59pm Mon 26 Jul 10

Made for C4 called walsall man.... for all those that believe the hype
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=xE7Xng1FE
z0&feature

Report this post »

flobknob says...
1:03pm Mon 26 Jul 10

UAF Dudley
www.youtube.com/v/RC
mFVoFuwUo

Report this post »

flobknob says...
1:48pm Mon 26 Jul 10

Update 5:33pm BST, multiple sources:

People lying in road after being run over, blood everywhere.

We have eyewitness accounts coming in of Muslims using cars to drive down English protesters in Dudley. One report of an incident where 4 people were driven into, left them seriously injured and one woman dead. We are waiting for confirmation of this incident and an air ambulance has landed to assist the injured.

Just got back. There needs to be an offical complaint made to police. Coaches to Dudley port weren’t allowed to run, and we were made to walk through the Muslim area. One girl attacked by police dog. Others stabbed and lying in blood. Police battened EDL and did nothing about the Muslims. It’s a disgrace. Can also confirm someone got run over. People need to open their eyes, and it seems like we are being singled out. It’s a disgrace!

Casualties from collision in King St taken to hospital after treatment at scene. Witnesses should contact West Midlands Police.
The official story at the moment:
Quote:
Police are investigating a road traffic collision in which at least four people were injured close to the scene of today’s Dudley protest.

The incident happened as EDL protesters began to disperse from the Stafford Street protest area.

Paramedics were called to the scene in King Street following the collision at around 4pm.

The force's specialist Collision Investigation Team is carrying out a reconstruction of the incident.

Chief Supt Tom Coughlan said: “At this stage our priority is the safety of the injured people. A full investigation is already underway.

“The accident happened in an area of town away from the main protest area where there were no traffic controls in place.”

Report this post »

lucy_18 says...
4:48pm Tue 27 Jul 10

flobknob wrote:
Update 5:33pm BST, multiple sources: People lying in road after being run over, blood everywhere. We have eyewitness accounts coming in of Muslims using cars to drive down English protesters in Dudley. One report of an incident where 4 people were driven into, left them seriously injured and one woman dead. We are waiting for confirmation of this incident and an air ambulance has landed to assist the injured. Just got back. There needs to be an offical complaint made to police. Coaches to Dudley port weren’t allowed to run, and we were made to walk through the Muslim area. One girl attacked by police dog. Others stabbed and lying in blood. Police battened EDL and did nothing about the Muslims. It’s a disgrace. Can also confirm someone got run over. People need to open their eyes, and it seems like we are being singled out. It’s a disgrace! Casualties from collision in King St taken to hospital after treatment at scene. Witnesses should contact West Midlands Police. The official story at the moment: Quote: Police are investigating a road traffic collision in which at least four people were injured close to the scene of today’s Dudley protest. The incident happened as EDL protesters began to disperse from the Stafford Street protest area. Paramedics were called to the scene in King Street following the collision at around 4pm. The force's specialist Collision Investigation Team is carrying out a reconstruction of the incident. Chief Supt Tom Coughlan said: “At this stage our priority is the safety of the injured people. A full investigation is already underway. “The accident happened in an area of town away from the main protest area where there were no traffic controls in place.”
I actally saw people getting attacked by muslims. There was nothin in the press about this
I think its a disgrace and the police make me sick so do the muslims. Next time edl do go back to dudley it be war between them and the muslims

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree