EDL Shotton demo

Shotton demo – No counter demo, no trouble

24012011

North Wales Police out in force for Shotton Islamic centre protest

Jan 24 2011 By Mark Dowling, Flintshire Chronicle

ABOUT 100 members of far-right group the English Defence League descended on Shotton to protest against plans for a new Islamic cultural centre in the town.

Dozens of North Wales Police officers were out in force on Saturday (January 22) to ensure the protest passed peacefully.

EDL campaigners marched through the town centre to the site of the former Shotton Lane Social Club, where the proposed centre would be built if the Flintshire Muslim Cultural Society successfully raises the £150,000 needed to buy the venue.

Superintendent Dave Owens, the senior officer at the parade, said the parade passed without incident.

He said: “Our intention was to facilitate a peaceful protest and we were helped in achieving this by the organisers who discussed their plans with us before the event and were fully co-operative throughout.”

Supt Owens said the Deeside neighbourhood police team, led by Sergeant Tony Heaword, will continue to work with community leaders to address any ongoing concerns in relation to the development in Shotton.

Campaign group Unite Against Fascism had strongly criticised the protest.

National officer Martin Smith said: “The UAF deplores the EDL’s protest against building a cultural centre.

“Instead of spreading lies and hate against the Muslim community in Britain, we believe we should be able to celebrate anybody’s culture and live a life free of hate and bigotry.”