English Defence League's Telford march is banned
Home Secretary Theresa May today banned a planned march in Wellington by the English Defence League – but organisers this afternoon vowed they would still protest in the town.
Mrs May imposed a ban on tomorrow's march following a request by the police and Telford & Wrekin Borough Council, but she admitted she could not stop any demonstration by the group.
Mrs May said: "I have given my consent to a ban on marches in Telford this weekend. It is clear that a ban is needed to ensure communities and property are protected.
"West Mercia Police have a significant number of officers being deployed to police any EDL presence."
The EDL said it would still come to Wellington tomorrow and hold a "static protest".
In response to the announcement, a spokesman for the EDL said: "It is a shame that the Home Secretary could not have brought such stringent actions in when towns and cities were being looted and property damaged. It is yet again a classic example of a two-tier system for fear of upsetting people."
AFC Telford United's game against Luton Town, which was due to take place tomorrow, was called off yesterday at the request of police amid safety fears.
The club's chairman Lee Carter said the Home Secretary's decision was too little too late.
He said: "The community is still scared and businesses are still having to stop trading for the day.
"I don't see what difference it makes. All along I thought a ban should have been requested far earlier."
Chief Inspector Keith Gee, of West Mercia Police, said "a major police operation" was now under way ahead of the protest.
He added: "We shall do everything possible to ensure that any assembly on Saturday remains peaceful and poses the least amount of disruption possible for those not involved in the assembly. I would like to reassure the communities in and around Wellington that we have the resources available and the experience to deal with any incidents."
Councillor Shaun Davies, of Telford & Wrekin Council, said he welcomed Mrs May's decision after the authority made the request in writing yesterday afternoon.
By Jason Lavan
