Police in pledge as EDL plans another march in Wellington

The far-right organisation has announced that it intends to hold the march in Wellington, Telford, on March 16.

It is the first march of the year for the organisation, which has made Telford the focus of demonstrations on previous occasions.

The group last marched through Wellington in May last year, in the wake of national reports about CSE in Telford.

About 50 EDL marchers and 40 counter-protesters turned out on that occasion.

In 2011, the then Home Secretary Theresa May also banned the organisation from marching through the town.

Monitor

Ahead of March's planned event Chief Inspector Graham Preece from West Mercia Police said that they would continually monitor the situation in the run up to the March.

He added that the force would ensure measures are taken to provide a safe environment for the people of Telford.

He said: "We are aware that some plans have been announced for an EDL protest event in Telford in March.

"We are currently at an early stage of reviewing the intelligence, including community intelligence and concerns, surrounding these plans.

"The right to peacefully protest is a fundamental democratic right and our role is to prevent any crime and disorder and ensure a proportionate policing response is put in place. The situation will be continually monitored.

"I can assure people in Telford that we are now working with a range of other agencies and community partners to ensure that appropriate preparations are made.

"We are committed to ensuring that our communities are safe places for all, as we have demonstrated successfully at a number of such events previously."

Support

Telford and Wrekin Council said it would be backing the police in any help they need.

A spokesman said: "The police are leading on overseeing this protest and we are supporting their efforts by providing services where necessary.”

Last year a number of Telford groups joined forces to ask the EDL not to attend the town.

A joint statement signed by councillors, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Telford Unity Forum, Wellington LA21, the Rev Tim Carter of All Saints, Wellington, and Telford Muslim Forum said the march would not provide answers for victims or survivors of CSE.

They wrote: “As a strong united community we would ask the EDL and any other group to stay away from Wellington.

“The disruption to everyday business and the everyday lives of the law-abiding majority is unwanted and unwelcome.

“Our community is entirely aware of the despicable crimes that have taken place here and fully support the victims and survivors. We are absolutely united in our condemnation of those crimes and totally determined to establish what has gone on and how we can make sure it won’t happen again.”

"We are also committed to working together to rebuild trust and confidence in our town and pride in our community. We don’t need any group to march here, cause a disturbance and tell us what we already know."