Home Secretary bans Bradford march by English Defence League

The Home Secretary has agreed to Bradford City Council's request to ban a proposed march by the English Defence League (EDL) scheduled for the bank holiday weekend (28th August) on the grounds of public safety..

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: “Having carefully balanced rights to protest against the need to ensure local communities and property are protected, the Home Secretary today gave her consent to a Bradford Council Order banning any marches in the city over the bank holiday weekend.

“West Yorkshire Police are committed to using their powers to ensure communities and property are protected and we encourage all local people to work with the police to ensure community cohesion is not undermined by public disorder.”

The order does not prevent the EDL from holding a static demonstration in the city and the council does not have the power to ban static protests.