Friday 11 November 2011

Why were EDL members arrested?

There's something very fishy in the arrest of 150 EDL supporters for the crime of ... err ... what exactly? According to the Graun, the fuzz stepped in and arrested 150 "to prevent breach of the peace". So ... not actually for breach of the peace.

The cover story is that the EDL members, in London to pay their respects on Armistice Day, were planning to steam over to St Pauls and ... what? Commit a breach of the peace?

However, this does not square with EDL's comments prior to the day.
"To those of you who will still be attending London in the morning to pay your respects,‭ ‬please make your way to Westminster and not Kensington as originally planned.‭ ‬We wish to remind you to conduct yourselves accordingly by dressing smartly‭ (‬suit and tie if possible‭) ‬and acting respectfully and responsibly.‭ ‬This is not an EDL march and EDL colours/hoodies and banners should not be bought along.‭ ‬Above all wear your poppy with pride‭!"
This article discusses the government's proscription of Muslims against Crusades, so the plan to disrupt the poppy burners was no longer necessary. Thus, as far as I can see, the EDL had only one objective - to align themselves with the sentiment of Armistice Day, which dictates respectful behaviour. Getting into fights at St Pauls Cathedral would hardly be fitting. Also these arrests took place in Westminster, two miles down the road, outside the jurisdiction of the police in Westminster incidently.

8 comments:

Quiet_Man said...

I was there with other EDL patriots and watched as the pub where the EDL were watching with respect was surrounded 6 deep by the police who then dragged the EDL away under arrest using dogs and batons. One EDL member had recently had heart surgery and collapsed whilst being removed
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8884583/170-members-of-English-Defence-League-arrested-near-Cenotaph-in-London.html
1 minute in.
He was the de-arrested and told to seek help elsewhere.

The EDL are fuming over this at the minute, there never was any intention to go to St Paul's.

Woodsy42 said...

Yes, I thought this very strange. I'm not an EDL supporter but as far as I know they are careful to try and stay within the law. But mass arrests in case a crime might be committed means nobody is safe. You might be planning to underpay your income tax? no problem HMRC can have everyone arrested in case! The action of the police had to be illegal.
I would assume the EDL will be taking legal advice, and I wish them luck.

Anonymous said...

As a member of Her Majesty's not so finest I can inform you that the task of provoking the citizenry had been transferred from, shall we say plain clothes, to uniform on the orders of the Home Secretary. Inside job.

England is occupied.

Trooper Thompson said...

Anon,

an improvement of sorts ...

Anonymous said...

I am appalled at the draconian behaviour of the police - seemingly one can now be arrested in this country before commiting any offence...in which case we are all in danger. As for the EDL, like the BNP - if they want to be taken seriously they might choose to get themselves a squeaky clean, white collar worker type (male or female), at least as a as a front. Their present leader's manner, tone and command of the English language comes across as being too "rough" to be taken seriously. JC

Angry Exile said...

Worrying state of affairs. Not even bothering to use Labour's mini-enabling Acts, just giving orders to make arrests when no crimes have been committed. Banana republic Britain.

Angry Exile said...

PS - Should we read anything into the disabling of comments on the Teletubbygraph story Quiet_Man linked to? If so, what? Newspaper cowardice, request from TPTB? I'm inclined to the former, but...

Trooper Thompson said...

EDL need to get themselves a proper lawyer and fight this in the courts. They are being used to set precedents. What needs to be exposed is the line of command that ordered the mass arrests.