News from Harrow Labour

Harrow Labour leader writes to the Home Secretary about planned ‘Anti Mosque’ demonstration

Councillor Bill Stephenson, the Leader Labour Group Harrow Council has writes:

All Harrow residents must be horrified to learn about the proposal to hold another ‘Anti Mosque’ demonstration in Harrow on Dec 13. Those of us, like myself, who were present at the last one will know of the potential for such a demonstration to lead to very serious violence and damage, let alone totally disrupting traffic and preventing local residents going about their lawful business. Once again a similar demonstration in Manchester led to serious violence, the use of police horses and nearly 50 arrests. In addition there is an enormous cost of policing both to the police themselves and to the local councils involved. It seems to me unacceptable that a few unrepresentative individuals should be allowed to pick places almost at random to organise what are essentially pitched battles. We do not want this again in Harrow or indeed anywhere in the country.

With this in mind I have personally written to the Home Secretary and have approached our local MPs, the Brent and Harrow Assembly Member, the Borough Commander and the Council’s Chief Executive requesting that they jointly seek an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary to see if there is any action which can be taken to prevent any further deliberate outbreaks of public disorder. Enough is enough.

Other news from Harrow Labour

• New Year’s greeting: Tory fare rises - 30 December 2010
• Boris's broken ticket office promise a big blow to Harrow - 14 August 2010
• Conservative Harrow Council's "culture of fear" condemned - 19 May 2010