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Just received the following email from Our Nigel, which is self-explanatory.
Dear friends and neighbours
Following the dreadful and unacceptable activities that we witnessed on Dover’s streets on Saturday 30th January this year, along with our Member of Parliament and my District Council colleague, Keith Morris, we met with the Chief Constable of Kent, his Deputy and our Area Commander to state quite clearly the feelings of the local community. A few days later, I met with the Area Commander, Ch Insp Steve Barlow on a one-to-one basis speaking about real local points that I had not only witnessed myself but those referred to me in some detail in a sharing information mode.
Last week, I was invited by Ch Insp Barlow to meet with him with half a dozen other people with local interests to try to set up a network for sharing information and in an attempt to get information to the wider public. As many of you know, I have followed this sort of principle with various Access issues in and around the town for some months now.
Below is a write up of the notes I took at this meeting that I have run past Steve Barlow for accuracy.
There is another set of two protests planned for Saturday 2nd April along the same lines as before with one organised by the South East Alliance which I am advised is a right wing group that will assemble at Dover Priory Station before marching at around 1pm to the Eastern Docks via Folkestone Road, York Street and Townwall Steet with a silent protest at the roundabout outside the docks. The other, said to have been called once the aforementioned was announced, is by the Kent Anti-Racism Network, a left wing group, in the Market Square at 11am which is said to be a static protest or assembly that will stay in the Market Square.
This is being tagged OPERATION SKEP 5 by Kent Police.
Reverting to the 30th January, SKEP 4, there were 17 arrests on the day that has now steadily risen to 31, as of last week, with investigations still ongoing using CCTV footage and other photographic evidence. Those arrested are from as far as places like Anglesey, Farnborough and Blackburn to mention just a few.
Why Dover? – Something we are all asking!
Apparently the popularity of our town to hold such events is believed to stem from those deemed successful during the early part of this millennium in respect of the asylum issue.
The Legislation.
A march or assembly must not prevent or hinder others therefore there must be an assumption that a peaceful situation will prevail, not annoying or disdainful. However, anyone who does not act lawfully doesn’t take away the right to protest. The police have powers to keep order which include conditions that can be applied to a march or assembly that causes disruption to life.
The introduction of Conditions is something that the Chief Constable can consider with sufficient evidence.
In law, the fracas in Dover on 30th January is not classed as ‘Serious’. ‘Serious’ are events such as that in Tottenham in 2011 when the Metropolitan Police faced a total riot as some of you will remember.
Banning.
There is nothing in legislation that would enable an assembly to be banned.
To ban a protest march there would need to be evidence of serious public disorder for the Chief Constable to act. He would them need to approach the Chief Executive of Dover District Council for support and then appeal to the Home Secretary who will make any decision.
If this line was taken, there is nothing to stop people coming into town in groups without the police knowing and thus sufficient resources may not be available to deal with any unacceptable anti-social activities that may arise.
What now.
Ch Insp Barlow and his local team of officers intend to provide those of us who attended his meeting with updates as they are received that I will pass to you.
If you do not wish to be kept updated on this please let me know.
HOWEVER, this will be information from Kent Police so any queries or questions will need to go to them.
Kent Police will also be dealing directly with the media in general, including social media.
Regards
Nigel