One Million United Official Blog

English Defence League is planning a demonstration in Leicester

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:24:57 +0000

EDL members and police during a rally in Nottingham

By peter warzynski

Controversial group the English Defence League (EDL) has revealed it will hold a protest in Leicester next month.

The EDL – whose stated aim is to oppose Islamic extremism – said about 3,000 members would be involved in the demonstration, on Saturday, October 9

Critics say EDL is a far-right group whose demonstrations have led to violence in other UK cities.

In August, EDL activists were involved in violent scenes in Bradford as 1,600 officers drafted in from 13 forces across the country tried to keep the peace.

Smoke bombs and missiles were thrown and five people were arrested.

In December, 11 men were arrested and a police officer suffered a broken arm after skirmishes during an EDL demonstration in Nottingham.

However, fears that violence could erupt in Leicester have been dismissed by the protest’s organisers.

A spokesman for the EDL said: “We’re expecting a good turnout, but I don’t believe we will see the same kind of thing in Leicester that we had in Bradford. We’re not expecting any trouble.”

Anti-fascist movement Searchlight said the EDL was in Leicester for “one reason only”.

Spokesman Simon Cressy said: “They’re a walking time bomb who bring disharmony and disruption wherever they go.”

Leicester Unite Against Fascism (UAF) is planning a counter-demonstration.

A spokesman said: “Leicester UAF is building opposition to this proposed demonstration. Previous EDL marches have seen shops and houses vandalised, people attacked and racist chanting.

“They do not represent the majority of people in this country.”

Councillor Manjula Sood, leader of the Leicester Council of Faiths, said: “We saw what happened in Bradford and we don’t want the same thing here in Leicester.

“We have built a reputation of community cohesion. We are not perfect but other cities look to us as an example of cohesion and we don’t want to damage that.

“Anything which disrupts the harmony of the city is not welcome – and that includes extremism in all its forms.”

Senior Leicestershire police officers met yesterday to discuss the protest.

Chief Superintendent Jason Masters said: “Senior officers are now working with key partner agencies and stakeholders in the community, to consider the options for policing this event, which includes assessing legal powers to restrict or prohibit certain aspects of the event.”

The Home Office said it had not received a formal application for a march in Leicester.

However, protesters do not need permission to hold an assembly – or static demonstration – in a public place.

The Freedom of Assembly laws say neither the police nor Government have the power to ban a static demonstration in a public place, although conditions may be imposed.

Shock as Dudley mosque scheme revived

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:21:55 +0000

Source: Express & Star

Muslim leaders are going ahead with a controversial multi-million pound mosque in Dudley town centre after abandoning hopes an alternative site will be found.

The Dudley Muslim Association says it has “no choice” but to prepare a full planning application for a mosque and community centre on land in Hall Street. Chairman Khurshid Ahmed said members could not wait any longer.

They have decided to pursue the Hall Street proposal, which is expected to cost up to £1 2million and for which outline planning permission has already been secured. Detailed plans must be in by July next year.

The news is a hammer blow to Dudley Council. It has been involved in months of delicate negotiations with the DMA over Hall Street, which has attracted huge protests.

The authority claimed in May the DMA had agreed to ditch the scheme in favour of a scaled down proposal in Castle Hill.

The Castle Hill proposal was later ruled out sparking a fresh search for new sites.

Mr Ahmed said today: “We have no choice but to go ahead and make a full planning application for Hall Street.

“I’m very disappointed the council have not been able to come up with a viable alternative which would have resolved the issue.

“We have reached the stage where it’s all systems go. Once we start investing money and commit a budget to making the full application, it will be the point of no return.”

Mr Ahmed added architects would be instructed “within weeks” while detailed plans would be submitted “in months”.

The council rejected initial plans for the Hall Street mosque and community centre but they were granted on appeal.

A High Court judge upheld the appeal decision. Two petitions against the plan drew more than 50,000 signatures with residents saying the building would be out of keeping with Dudley’s medieval character.

By Mark Mudie

‘Tommy’ Issues Statement That Proves The EDL’s Pretence Is Up

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:17:52 +0000

English Defence League leader, ‘Tommy Robinson’ last night posted a statement that seemed to confirm at last the racist roots of the far-right group.

In a fit of profane pique, the EDL’s self-styled head honcho has poured scorn on those infighting within the organisation, and furiously attacked those accusing him of making money from the EDL membership.

This came just hours after the EDL announced they were no longer selling merchandise – a move almost certainly prompted by legal action on the part of the Football Association, who had previously contacted the EDL requesting they remove the copyright protected football shirts they were offering for sale. Needless to say, members are not happy.

EDL supporters denied merchandise owing to ongoing rumours regarding profit

The militant tone of the latest statement is sure to spark fresh debate about the future of the EDL and it’s counterparts; concerns have already been raised in many quarters regarding the increasing violence and aggression in the ranks.

For the past few weeks, infighting and tensions between and within the various Defence Leagues has caused a sense of instability and insecurity among the members, many of whom are making increasingly regular calls for the EDL to adopt greater militancy in it’s ‘fight against Islamism’; a fight that is now very clearly nothing to do with extremism, but open season on the whole Muslim community.

Dissent: Prominent EDL members are becoming disillusioned with the lack of organisation and infighting

Fake: Littlejohn will no longer attend 'peaceful' protests that turn into riots

Another one bites the dust: increasing disagreements threaten the EDL's future.

In recent weeks, several prominent EDL members have left the organisation, citing a variety of reasons including increased militancy, lack of militancy, internal disputes and arguments about money. Among those abandoning what many now believe to be a sinking ship is also ‘Granny Doris’, whom many younger EDL members have previously held in high esteem. Jon ‘Snowy’ Shaw is also believed to have resigned his post as Regional Organiser.

New joint leader, BNP voter Kevin Carroll (AKA admin no. 1 on Facebook), has been seen openly posting racist and religious hatred on Facebook, making an absolute mockery of the Code Of Conduct recently introduced by himself and ‘Robinson’.

The mask slips: Carroll claims Brits must be white

Carroll is father to a mixed race child, despite his racial stereotyping and BNP membership.

Next month the EDL plan to visit Leicester, under the laughable slogan, ‘Black and white unite’. The first obviously racially motivated demo, the leadership have invited support to the event by claiming that, ‘By 2012 according to offical figures it will be the first English city to be lost and will no longer be majority indiginious English people who inhabit it.’ (sic)

Whilst we were unable to find any ‘official figures’ to support this claim, we did manage to find another post by Carroll underneath the official one that said, ‘And yes (by indigenous), I mean white’.

Thanks to Expose

US pastor Terry Jones vows to go ahead with Koran burning on September 11

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:58:21 +0000

Source: Belfast Telegraph

A Christian pastor in the US, the Reverend Terry Jones, has insisted he will go ahead with plans to burn copies of the Koran on September 11, despite criticism from the top US general in Afghanistan, the White House and the State Department, as well as a host of religious leaders.

Mr Jones, who is known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil’s religion, said the US Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the book that Muslims consider the word of God.

General David Petraeus warned that “images of the burning of a Koran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan – and around the world – to inflame public opinion and incite violence”.

It was a rare example of a military commander taking a position on a domestic political matter.

Mr Jones responded that he is also concerned but is “wondering, ‘When do we stop’?”

He refused to cancel the protest set for Saturday at his Dove World Outreach Centre in Florida, a church that espouses an anti-Islam philosophy.

“How much do we back down? How many times do we back down?” Mr Jones said. “Instead of us backing down, maybe it’s to time to stand up. Maybe it’s time to send a message to radical Islam that we will not tolerate their behaviour.”

Still, Mr Jones said he will pray about his decision.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the administration hoped Americans would stand up and condemn the church’s plan.

“We think that these are provocative acts,” Mr Crowley said. “We would like to see more Americans stand up and say that this is inconsistent with our American values; in fact, these actions themselves are un-American.”

Meeting with religious leaders to discuss recent attacks on Muslims and mosques around the US, Attorney General Eric Holder called the planned burning both idiotic and dangerous, according to a Justice Department official.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added her disapproval at a dinner in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful, disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths,” Mrs Clinton said.

At the White House, spokesman Robert Gibbs echoed the concerns raised by Mr Petraeus. “Any type of activity like that that puts our troops in harm’s way would be a concern to this administration,” Mr Gibbs told reporters.

Mr Jones said he has received more than 100 death threats and has started wearing a .40-calibre pistol strapped to his hip.

The 58-year-old minister said the death threats started not long after he proclaimed in July that he would stage International Burn-a-Koran Day. Supporters were mailing copies of the Islamic holy text to his church to be incinerated in a bonfire.

Mr Jones, who has about 50 followers, gained some local notoriety last year when he posted signs in front of his small church declaring “Islam is of the Devil”.

The preacher: A small church in the heart of small town USA

The global reverberations from the Dove World Outreach Center’s anti-Islam campaign belie its insignificance, even in the small Florida town of Gainesville where the centre attracts barely 50 congregants.

Founded in 1986, the church is now run by a former hotel manager, Terry Jones, a lanky preacher with a bushy white moustache who is treated as a fringe figure even in Gainesville (population 125,000). Under his guidance, Dove is trying to change the evangelical church’s role “from a local church to an apostolic church with a world vision”.

There are an estimated 115,000 white evangelical churches in the United States that wield significant political clout. The movement’s umbrella group, the National Association of Evangelicals, has also urged the group to give up its protest.

The church’s website claims that it seeks to “expose Islam” as a “violent and oppressive religion” and to raise awareness “that the Koran is leading people to hell”.

Mr Jones, however, told the New York Times that he had no experience of what the Koran said. He said that he had received more than 100 death threats and has now started wearing a pistol.

The church runs similarly virulent campaigns such as “abortion is murder; homosexuality is sin”, and also ran a “no homo for mayor” campaign. Its “International Burn a Koran Day” Facebook page has attracted more than 8,400 online followers. An opposing group has almost twice as many followers.

Local opposition has been swift: two dozen churches, Jewish temples and Muslim organisations in Gainesville have planned inclusive events to counter Mr Jones’s protest.

Holly Williams

Islam in America

* The exact number of American Muslims is unknown – the US census does not record religious affiliation – but most estimates suggest that they make up around 7 million, or 2 per cent, of the population.

* There are fewer than 2,000 mosques in the US, many of them makeshift prayer rooms. New York City has around 100 mosques, more than 90 per cent of which have been built in the last 40 years.

* One of the most powerful figures in 17th-century New York was a Muslim: Anthony Janszoon van Salee was a wealthy Dutch Moroccan landowner and merchant whose father was an admiral in the Moroccan navy. Van Salee was also one of the first settlers of Brooklyn.

* California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, Texas and Ohio are the states which have the highest concentrations of followers of Islam.

* One in five US Muslims is a convert to Islam.

Schools ordered to probe all playground bullying for racism after pupil is left brain damaged by hammer attack

admin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:54:43 +0000

Source: Daily Mail

Ambushed: A review into the attack on Henry Webster has called on schools to monitor playground bullying for racism - Pic by Press Association

Schools have been ordered to investigate all incidents of playground bullying for racism after a white 15-year-old boy was brain-damaged in a hammer attack by a gang of Asian pupils.

A report today found Ridgeway School failed to recognise a series of racist incidents prior to the assault and called on teachers to have more contact with police.

It also pushes for schools nationwide to record the ethnicity of bullies and victims and take urgent action should a pattern of racism arise.

The report was the first serious case review into problems at a school.

It examined circumstances surrounding the attack on Henry Webster who suffered a fractured skull after being punched, kicked and hit with the sharp end of a claw hammer in January 2007, when he was 15.

The 6ft 2in former rugby player was left brain damaged when he was ambushed by a group of youths who called themselves the ‘Asian Invaders’ on the tennis courts of Ridgeway School, in Wroughton, near Swindon.

Afterwards, his attackers – four of whom were pupils at the school – punched the air in triumph, shouting: ‘That’s what you call Paki bashing.’

In 2008, 13 people were convicted over their role in the attack.They were given sentences of up to eight years behind bars.

Although Henry, now 18, has recovered sufficiently to return to part-time education, he still suffers from short-term memory loss.

Today’s review, which involved speaking to the school, police, council and other organisations, slams the establishment for failing to tackle the growing tensions between Muslim and white teenagers.

It claims opportunities to intervene to address escalating issues were missed – even after a riot on the playing fields.

And it says the school was not adequately prepared when about 20 Asian pupils from central Swindon joined the rural school in September 2005 – less than two months after the 7/7 London bombings.

Their enrollment had been designed to improve community relations.

According to the Telegraph, the review says: ‘[Ridgeway] knew well in advance that a significant number of British Asian pupils were joining the school in September 2005.

‘They did not prepare for this which was soon after the London bombings in July 2005. The likely influence of all pupils’ communities and families on pupil behaviour was not understood.’

However, Henry’s mother Liz Webster branded the report a ‘whitewash’.

‘We are very concerned that the report has failed to address many of the failings which surrounded our family’s treatment throughout this terrible episode in our lives,’ she told the Telegraph.

‘The criticism of the local authority is tantamount to a whitewash as it is so minimal and limited.

‘The review doesn’t mention what needs to be done to improve race relations in Swindon which is an urgent concern considering the increase in the vote for the BNP.’

Her son was attacked after he agreed to fight a boy ‘one on one’ to end the harassment which he thought he and his friends were experiencing.

The vicious ambush, which happened after four boys pointed him out to three Asian men who arrived in cars, lasted one minute.

Six blows from a hammer produced by one of the intruders left the teenager with a depressed skull fracture.

Criticised: Ridgeway failed to prepared for the arrival of about 20 Asian youths prior to the attack, according to the report

Last year, Henry, of Beranburh Field, Wroughton, and his family launched a High Court challenge claiming that the school had been negligent, failed to maintain proper discipline and failed to deal with racial tension. The school denied liability.

In February this year, Mr Justice Nicol rejected their claims and said the school did not breach its duty to take reasonable care to keep Henry reasonably safe while on its premises.

Following the High Court ruling, the Swindon Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) commissioned a Serious Case Review to examine the facts and allow professional agencies to learn lessons.

The Department for Education is expected to release an executive summary of its findings – not the entire report.

Mike Howard, independent chair of the Swindon LSCB, said: ‘I hope that the Webster family, and in particular Henry, regard this report as a thorough examination of the events around the dreadful attack which he suffered, and it will help them all to move on.

‘I am sorry that what was already an extremely distressing experience was made worse by the lack of co-ordinated support they received from some agencies.

‘The attack took place over three and a half years ago and, despite the regrettable delay in concluding the SCR process, many of the measures made in the recommendations have already been identified and acted upon by individual agencies.’

The report also lists the lessons learned from this case. One of the most significant is that, in the event of critical incidents within schools, the level of support required by victims and their family should be a key consideration.

About 40,000 incidents of racism have been reported by schools every year since 2002 when they were placed under a legal obligation to monitor all racist incidents.

However, the review’s 32 recommendations would further add to the ‘red tape’ facing schools which Education Secretary Michael Gove has planned to cut.

The case shed light on the number of racists attacks at schools in Swindon. Between November 2006 and November 2008, police dealt with 337 crimes – 137 of them violent incidents.

The highest number of those attacks, some 58, occurred at Churchfields school while 52 were recorded at Ridgeway school.

In the past 12 months, admittedly, perimeter fences and bans on mobile phones has helped the school reduce its number of violent crimes.

However, Henry’s mother Liz Webster called the report a ‘whitewash’.

‘We are very concerned that the report has failed to address many of the failings which surrounded our family’s treatment throughout this terrible episode in our lives,’ she told the Telegraph.

‘The criticism of the local authority is tantamount to a whitewash as it is so minimal and limited.

‘The review doesn’t mention what needs to be done to improve race relations in Swindon which is an urgent concern considering the increase in the vote for the BNP.’

The Department for Education is expected to release an executive summary of the serious case review – not the entire report.

About 40,000 incidents of racism have been reported by schools every year since 2002 when they were placed under a legal obligation to monitor all racist incidents.

However, the review’s 32 recommendations would further add to the ‘red tape’ facing schools which Education Secretary Michael Gove has planned to cut.

Henry’s case shed light on the number of racists attacks at schools in Swindon.

Between November 2006 and November 2008, police dealt with 337 crimes – 137 of them violent incidents.

Of these, 52 were recorded at Ridgeway school.

Since then, the school has reduced its number of violent crimes with perimeter fences and a ban on mobile phones.

Singer Edwyn Collins takes on the BNP and wins

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:05:06 +0000

Source: Edinburgh Evening News

Pop star’s fury as BNP website uses hit song

CITY rocker Edwyn Collins demanded that the BNP remove his song from a “bizarre” party website that is being investigated by police.

• Edwyn Collins

The Edinburgh-born star’s hit A Girl Like You featured on a Lothians British National Party website behind images of Asian men burning a union flag and veiled women waving banners saying “God Bless Hitler”.

The “Lothians BNP Video” site has now been taken off-line and its creator, BNP Central Scotland organiser Mike Coyle, has resigned from the party.

Police are investigating whether any action can be taken against the site. Edwyn Collins’ wife and manager, Grace Maxwell, warned the BNP against using copyrighted material on their websites.

Ms Maxwell said: “There are many iffy videos on YouTube using A Girl Like You without permission and we are normally very relaxed about it.

“Whilst we don’t believe that viewers would imagine for a moment that Edwyn has sanctioned the use of his track in this bizarre setting, for the removal of any doubt, we will require it to be deleted and will take the necessary steps to ensure that this happens.”

The site, which was accessed via a link on the BNP Scotland website, also featured Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World with a montage calling the founder of Islam a “murderer” and “a paedophile”, and several original songs by a Whitburn-based heavy metal band called Mott & Bailey.

The tracks railed against “invaders marching through our land, coming in like the night” and “darkness bringing down the walls”. Videos accompanying the tracks featured images of 9/11, the London bombings and processions of coffins being carried through Wootton Bassett intermixed with images of British mosques and protesting Muslims.

Mr Coyle initially defended the site, stating that he saw nothing criminal in its content and claiming that “the BNP are not in the business of upsetting people”. However, within hours of being contacted by the News, copyrighted content had been removed and the site had been re-branded “The Unofficial BNP Video Site”. Mr Coyle then resigned.

The father-of-four said: “My last act as a BNP member was to dismantle this site. I put my head above the parapet and ended up being lied to. I set up this website with the full approval of the Scottish party, but now that my name stands to be dragged through the newspapers they have failed to show me any support.

“When I stood as a candidate in the last election my children were subjected to death threats, but I stood firm. They have lied to me for the last time.”

The BNP Scotland website carries contact details for party members, party news and a page of material written by BNP Scotland leader Gary Raikes.

But Mr Raikes described it as “an unofficial blog”. A line has been added to the site stating, “This is an unofficial BNP site”.

He said Mr Coyle’s site was set up with his support but was not officially sanctioned by the party.

He said: “We are sorry to lose Mr Coyle over this. Many sites support the BNP and we are glad for that support but cannot be held responsible for content. This would appear to be yet another witch hunt by the left-wing press.”

BNP national leader Nick Griffin declined to comment.

Muslim activist Osama Saeed, founder of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, said: “The videos show the BNP are stuck in a time warp, laden with images from the Crusades. The far-right always try to isolate and stigmatise particular groups and the latest is Muslims.”

A police spokesman said: “Inquiries will be made in order to establish whether any further action can be taken.”

Pub landlord ‘flouted terms of his licence’

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:35:19 +0000

Source: Bolton News

A PUB landlord “flouted the terms of his licence” by allowing a group of up to 150 English Defence League activists to drink alcohol from 9am on the morning of their town centre protest, a court heard.

Between 100 and 150 of the group’s members and supporters gathered at the Stag’s Head pub in Junction Road ahead of their Victoria Square protest on March 20, Bolton magistrates’ heard.

The court was told, against the rules of his licence and despite being explicitly advised to the contrary by police two days earlier, landlord Simon Kirkpatrick opened early, served alcohol, allowed people to have glass bottles and had no security staff on the pub’s door.

Later that morning, more than 50 police officers had to cordon off the pub and arrange for coaches to transport the EDL protesters into town so they would not march through Deane, where many Asian families live.

The court heard the EDL supporters, many of whom were wearing masks, hoods and scarves, were chanting “racist” songs.

Inspector Phil Spurgeon said Kirkpatrick “had a smile as big as the proverbial Cheshire Cat” as he served the men before 11am, the time permitted by his licence.

He said: “We asked him why he had opened up early and he said that he thought he could.”

Kirkpatrick told the court the back door of the pub was open at 9am because the cleaner was sweeping up outside, which allowed a group of about 30 to 40 men to take him by surprise by entering the pub.

He claimed the men demanded he served them alcohol and threatened to smash up the pub if he did not.

Kirkpatrick, appearing at Bolton Magistrates’ Court, said: “I haven’t got a clue why they came to my pub.

“Initially, I didn’t know who they were or what they wanted, apart from a drink.

“I thought serving them was the only option I had without harming the people who were with me, the pub and myself.”

He also said the police had advised him to stay open to prevent a public order problem developing.

Kirkpatrick, aged 39, of Buckley Lane, Farnworth, denies selling alcohol outside of his licensing hours, knowingly allowing disorderly conduct to take place and knowingly breaching the conditions of his licensing agreement.

More than 4,000 people from the EDL and United Against Fascism protested in Bolton town centre on March 20, and more than 100 people were arrested across the town throughout the day.

The trial continues.

CCTV footage to be studied after disorder arrests at EDL protests

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:33:43 +0000

Source: Telegraph & Argus

Police officers remove a member of the EDL from Bradford’s Urban Garden

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.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/resources/images/1412122/?type=display

Police officers remove a member of the EDL from Bradford’s Urban Garden

Drunken racist threatens to blow up shop

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:41:31 +0000

Source: Macclesfield Express

GUILTY PLEA: Bradley pictured outside Chester Crown Court

A drunk customer threatened to blow up a Macclesfield off-licence during a tirade of racist abuse against the bewildered owner.

Sentencing Michael Anthony Bradley to a community order, a judge said his actions had made shop worker Mohammad Usman feel like ‘a stranger in his own land’.

Chester Crown Court heard how Bradley, 43, of Danes Square, Macclesfield, twice walked in and racially abused Mr Usman at ‘Boozer’,on Mill Lane on March 26.

Counsel for the prosecution, Robert Philpotts, told how a ‘very drunk’ Bradley yelled a torrent of racist abuse, shouting ‘you touched my missus’ and ‘I’m going to come back to blow your shop up’.

Mr Philpotts added: “He (the victim) was frightened and thought that the defendant was going to smash the shop up. The other man tried to calm him down. Half an hour later, he returned to the shop but was with a female. Mr Usman was on the telephone to the police. The female kept saying ‘it’s not him, it’s the other guy’.”

Bradley hurled more abuse at Mr Usman before an off-duty policeman came to help.

The couple then fell into a ‘heap in the road’.

Police later tracked Bradley down to a house on Mill Lane where he tried to escape by jumping over a wall.

He pleaded guilty to racially aggravated fear of violence at an earlier hearing.

Debra White, counsel for the defence, told the court: “It is something he (Bradley) deeply regrets.”

Judge Stephen Clarke told Bradley: “This caused a good degree of upset to Mr Usman, as far as he’s concerned he is British and respects this country. Clearly when you speak to him in that way that makes him feel like a stranger in his own land. You’re not treating him with the dignity every person is entitled to.”

Bradley was sentenced to a community order for 12 months with a supervision requirement. He must also attend an Addressing Substance Related Offending programme.

After the sentence, victim Mohammed Usman, 24, from Levenshulme, told the Express he and his family bought the Mill Lane shop because they thought it would be safer than Manchester.

He said: “I have been here four years and I have only had two problems, in this area it’s not common, I know areas like Longsight in Manchester where kids will throw stones at your window for not serving them, so I have been lucky here.

“I wasn’t scared because I knew I had done nothing wrong, but when he started racially abusing me, that’s when I thought I would have to get the police involved. I am happy with the sentence he got, as long as he knows he is banned from coming back into the shop again.”

His brother Mohammad Arslan, 21, who also works at the shop, added: “I am pleased that the police and courts have decided to do something about this.

“Hopefully his punishment will make people think twice before coming in drunk and shouting abuse at us.

“The punishment for this sort of behaviour should be more harsh because if police and courts let it continue it will just breed more bad feeling and resentment between different races.”

Barrow man in funeral fracas while on bail

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:38:22 +0000

Source: North West Evening Mail

A 64-YEAR-old man was punched in the face after arguing politics with a former BNP supporter during an altercation.

Bernard Devlin

While on bail for the incident, Bernard Devlin, 56, then became embroiled in violent scenes with police at a pub following his sister’s funeral.

Both a police officer and Devlin were said to have been taken to hospital unconscious as a result of events following a wake at the Tally Ho pub in Ormsgill, Barrow.

Devlin’s barrister said it was a concern that Devlin and his family were met with a response by the police that may not be reserved for all members of the public.

The defendant, of Romney Road, Barrow, was given 10 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 12 months supervision and a four-month curfew, to run from 7pm-7am each night.

He had pleaded guilty to separate offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and using threatening words or behaviour.

A 15-year-old boy also appeared for sentencing, having admitted using threatening words or behaviour. He was given six months supervision.

Mr Fraser Livesey, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said Raymond Smith had gone out with his wife for a drink in July last year ending up at Yates’s pub in Barrow.

He and the defendant got chatting and it was amiable at first. The conversation moved into politics, with Devlin saying he was involved with the BNP.

Mr Smith disagreed with those politics and an argument ensued, which turned nasty and became heated.

At one stage, the defendant punched Mr Smith in the face, knocking out a tooth.

Devlin allegedly asked “Do you want some more?” Mr Smith suffered a second blow to the mouth.

The defendant told police in interview that the other man had been aggressive.

He was on bail over that when the second offence arose on September 14, 2009, following the funeral of his sister in Barrow.

One of the others who also attended was a girl who was in care and due to be picked up by social services, but was reported missing to the police.

A wake was taking place at the Tally Ho pub in Ormsgill and the girl was seen making her way from the pub.

A scene of disorder then took place nearby, the prosecution said.

Mr Livesey said that a PC tried to detain the girl, because he had been told she was missing.

The officer grabbed hold of the girl and Devlin attempted to push him off her.

Others became involved and at one stage, the policeman used his pava spray, a form of pepper spray.

The boy, then 14, had his fists clenched and was waving them around.

Devlin struggled with more than one officer and was detained after being taken to the floor. A policeman lost consciousness, having been kicked to the head, though it wasn’t clear by whom.

The constable went on to be diagnosed with concussion. Several people were detained.

Devlin suggested police had dealt with the matter in a heavy-handed way and that he had been “jumped on” by officers.

Mr Paul Humphries, for Devlin, said he had health problems. Regarding the assault offence, he had felt threatened and thought he wouldn’t be able to leave safely. The defendant had been threatened, abused and jabbed at, said his barrister.

The defendant himself had called the police. Regarding the second offence, back-up police had detained the girl who was in care. She had difficulty breathing because of the way she was restrained.

Mr Humphries told the court “Mr Devlin was dragged to the ground himself. He felt he was being kicked.

“He was held in a headlock. He had someone pressing into his jugular vein. Broken glass was pushed into his mouth and pava spray used.

“He was desperately trying to wipe his eyes. He was hit by police officers once or three times”.

The defendant ended up unconscious, recovering at hospital.

Mr Humphries also told the court that, over the years, the defendant had sought to improve conditions for people.

He had tried to get better policing for Barrow, more police visible on the streets and quicker and better response times.

In 2007, Devlin was charged with threatening behaviour after performing a citizen’s-type arrest on a youth.

By the time police arrived, seven hours later, he had let the youth go. However, the youngster complained to police. Devlin was later acquitted. of the threatening behaviour allegation and 130 people signed a petition to say they had lost faith in the police in the area, added the barrister.

“The defendant has tried to improve the situation for himself and others. It is a concern of his that he and his family are met with a response by the police which may not be reserved for all members of the public”, said counsel.

Mr Humphries added that the defendant had distanced himself from BNP.

He had got involved because his mother had been forced to sell her house to pay for her husband’s care and due to a lack of political parties to remedy the situation.

Judge Simon Newell told Devlin; in passing sentence regarding the assault, the defendant and the other man had been entitled to speak freely.But he added; “You behaved in an entirely disproportionate way to an argument that occurred.”

There is no way that can be justified.”The judge said of the second offence “It seems to me the most sensible thing that could and should have occurred was for you to assist all the people in authority to take the girl back to the safety of her care address”.