CCTV footage to be studied after disorder arrests at EDL protests (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

CCTV footage to be studied after disorder arrests at EDL protests

6:50am Friday 3rd September 2010 in

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Police have vowed to bring the full force of the law against anyone involved in violence during a far-right demonstration in Bradford last Saturday.

West Yorkshire Police are to scrutinise CCTV footage of the English Defence League’s demonstration in the city centre following a string of arrests for disorder.

So far two men have been charged as police made a total of 14 arrests after outbreaks of violence at the static protest.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police, said: “We will be reviewing the CCTV footage for the day and looking to bring justice to anyone who was causing trouble on the day.”

Trouble briefly flared during the protest in Bradford’s Urban Garden as police attempted to keep hundreds of EDL supporters in check.

Smoke bombs, stones and bottles were thrown towards the group’s opponents, forcing mounted police and officers wearing riot gear to move in.

A group of the protesters managed to break free from the police cordon, clambered over hoardings at the Westfield site and ran towards Bolton Road. A police officer suffered minor injuries during the demonstration.

Arshad Ali, a spokesman for We Are Bradford, said those found guilty of taking part in the violence should receive “significant” sentences, in line with those handed out after the Bradford riots nine years ago.

He said: “Asian youths involved in the 2001 disturbances were meted out heavy long-term sentences for similar offences. We hope there will be equality and parity in the way justice will be done.”

Bradford-based human rights group JUST West Yorkshire, commended the police’s actions in containing the EDL demonstrations.

Director Ratna Lachman urged the police to consider even more prosecutions for inciting racial hatred.

She said: “JUST considers that there may be clear grounds for prosecution under the Crime and Disorder offences on the basis of racial aggravation.

“It is also clear some of the members of the EDL have broken the terms of the right to a static protest by climbing the barriers and breaking away from the static protest. JUST is calling for appropriate punitive measures to be brought to bear.”

Charges brought so far

• A 37-year-old Bradford man was charged with possessing an offensive weapon and bailed to appear at Bradford Magistrates Court next Wednesday.
• A 23-year-old Walsall man was charged with a public order offence and bailed to Leeds Magistrates Court on Monday, December 6.
• Two men, aged 22 and 20, and two boys, aged 16 and 15, were arrested on suspicion of wounding after a stone hit a man. All were released and remained on police bail yesterday.
• A Bradford man, 18, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder after a missile was thrown. He was bailed.
• A 23-year-old Birmingham man, a 23-year-old Halifax man and a 42-year-old Wolverhampton man were arrested for public order offences and released with fixed penalty notices.
• A Bradford man and a Wakefield man, both 24, were arrested for public order offences and bailed.
• A 32-year-old Bradford man was arrested for assaulting a police officer but was released without charge. The day after, a 24-year-old Bradford man was arrested for assault and causing criminal damage after a missile was thrown at a coach on the M62. He has been bailed pending further inquiries.