MP Keith Vaz and Leicestershire Chief Constable Simon Cole are to meet Government minister Nick Herbert to discuss the cost of policing last weekend’s English Defence League march.
As previously reported by the Mercury, the Leicestershire force faces a bill of at least £800,000 for protests by the EDL and Unite Against Fascism last weekend.
The final bill could be even higher when planning and preparations in the run-up to the day itself are taken into account.
Leicester East MP Mr Vaz said it was “unfair” that the entire cost for the policing operation lay at the door of the county force, which has had to save millions of pounds from its budget because of Government spending cuts.
He raised the issue, along with his concern at the impact on frontline policing from budget cuts, with policing minister Mr Herbert during the Police Grants debate in the House of Commons.
Speaking after the debate, he said: “Leicestershire Constabulary, like others in the country, is facing serious cuts to its budget in light of the Government’s deficit reduction programme.
“It is highly unfair that the £800,000 bill for policing the march should have to be met by the Leicestershire police force.
“I am delighted that policing minister Nick Herbert has agreed to meet with me on this issue.”
Chief Constable Simon Cole has also accepted an invitation from Mr Vaz to meet him and the minister.
A police spokesman said: “The chief constable has been invited to meet with Mr Vaz and Mr Herbert to discuss the issues surrounding the cost of policing these kinds of protest marches and the implications for police resources.”
About 700 people took part in the EDL march on Saturday, February 4, while police said 200 joined the Leicester Unite Against Fascism’s counter protest on a separate route.
The chief constable put 2,200 officers on the streets on the day, with most of the operation costs coming from the need to bring in police from 16 other forces.
The Leicestershire force was praised for its handling of the potentially volatile affair and there were no arrests.
Although the police are entitled to a financial contribution from football clubs such as Leicester City for policing home games, that is not currently the case with protests involving loosely-affiliated groups such as the EDL.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Ministers regularly conduct private meetings with MPs to discuss any issues or concerns.”
Writing in a First Person column in the Mercury, earlier this week, Mr Cole said: “It is not for the police to set the laws, but I do think that there needs to be some reflection about the costs and expectations placed on police forces as we are currently paying, on your behalf, the price of free speech.
“That price is significant, and it is paid with the money paid in through taxes by us all.”
The cost of the Leicester demo is small change compared to the amount of money Britain wastes giving foreign aid to countries like India who have said they dont want the money, the £60,000 a day the NHS waste on interpreters for foreigners who cant be bothered to learn English and the cost of crime committed against our people by foreign criminals who shouldnt even be in this country.
At the end of the day, the protest was about the racial attack on Rhea Page and the refusal of the left wing controlled, unaccountable CPS and their refusal to charge racial aggravation, and the left wing Judge who felt sorry for the poor oppressed immigrants he found in the dock before him.
All we want is equal treatment under the law, is that too much to ask for? Eleven people were this week jailed for what is little more than a minor public order offence in Carlisle, far less serious than the case in Leicester, as our legal system cracks down on white people but lets immigrants get away.
The EDL have booked a demo for Hyde, Manchester on Feb 25th, police have been told if the attackers are arrested and charged with racially aggravated offences before then, we may stop the demo. But I wouldnt hold your breath. CPS are highly likely to refuse to charge it correctly, so the cost of any demo will then lay at their door. We shall see what happens.
Suzy NFSE
It is highly unfair that we have a crook like Vaz in the country. Bring back the English. Stop anglo-phobia and the ethnic clearing of the english/british from their homeland. Make the traitors stand trail for their crimes.
vaz family are crooks in Goa,,lets get rid of this low lifes who dont mind giving our money to Pakistan..for shit,,,if they want to send the police its their problem,,,
[...] Keith Vaz unhappy about the cost of policing “Free Speech” and what they can do to avoid further… [...]
Govt launches public enquiry into Newham islamic school ; http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/government_launches_public_inquiry_into_forest_gate_islamic_school_1_1203785?
Quote:
” you cannot make us fight against our brothers”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/us-greece-police-idUSTRE8190UC20120210
Our own cops should take note.
They should also note we are aware that the foreign anti-white racist slug, Vaz, who is to meet with the Leicester Common Purpose ACPO Chief Constable, is, along with Cameron, a founding signatory to the violent, anti-white, anti-democratic islamo-marxist clawhammer gang -
http://uaf.org.uk/about/founding-signatories/
£12,000,000,000 to give away abroad, and that dosn’t include all the extra emergency payments we make. Nothing for the people who pay this money, is that what he said?
We have a right to protest. Is keith Vaz saying we.ll pay for any country in the world to fight for democracy, except ours.
He should make himself clear. After all the mp’s including himself have been demanding that people demonstrating across the middle east and africa have a right to do so, and should be allowed to do so!
Hear hear!
Is he still selling passports??? Cameron asked to make it a criminal offence to tell the truth that mo was a fkn murdering paedo!!!
is that the same creepy immigrant to this country keith vaz who went to belmarsh prison to have a cup of tea and a chat with old hookey abu hamsa last week..yes it was..you know hat his nickname is in the house of commens= creepy.. need say no more
You can see were all this is leading. More restrictions on EDL activities. All demonstrations cost public money to police. Trade Union mass marches, Trade Union pickets, Uncut anti-capitalist protests, power station protests, animal rights protests, Syrian and Russian embassy protests. A look at Indymedia will give an insight into the high number of agitation by small protest groups that have to be policed day in day out. Its another step by the state to finish off EDL. Pay up front to exercise your right to free speech and assembly or no demo. Labour MP Vaz like all politicians has been corrupted by power. He is answerable only to his ethnic Leicester powerbase. He is the worst kind of politician, divisive, spiteful and greedy
Whenever “expense” is mentioned by people like vaz and cole. ask them how much government money is spent on mohammadans in their districts, money which the mohammadans do NOTHING to EARN! That is, how much money do vaz and cole spend on leeches which do NOTHING to benefit Britain!