EDL march in London banned by home secretary
Theresa May consents to request from Met to ban all marches in Tower Hamlets and four neighbouring boroughs for 30 days
Fri 26 Aug 2011 12.11 EDT First published on Fri 26 Aug 2011 12.11 EDT
English Defence League members staging a demonstration in support of Dutch MP Geert Wilders in March 2010 in London. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images
The English Defence League's plan to march through the capital next month has been blocked by the home secretary.
Theresa May banned all marches in Tower Hamlets, east London, and four neighbouring boroughs in the capital for a 30-day period, following a request from the commander for the event, which was passed on to May by Scotland Yard's acting commissioner, Tim Godwin.
The move comes amid fears of violence and disorder if the march was allowed to go ahead.
May said: "Having carefully considered the legal tests in the Public Order Act and balanced rights to protest against the need to ensure local communities and property are protected, I have given my consent to a ban on all marches in Tower Hamlets and four neighbouring boroughs for a 30-day period.
"I know that the Metropolitan police are committed to using their powers to ensure communities and properties are protected.
"We encourage all local people and community leaders to work with the police to ensure community relations are not undermined by public disorder."
Nick Lowles, director of the anti-extremist campaign group Searchlight, said: "This decision is a victory for common sense.
"The EDL clearly intended to use the proposed march to bring violence and disorder to the streets of Tower Hamlets. Their plan has been foiled."
He added: "We congratulate Theresa May and the Metropolitan police on their decision, as well as those ordinary Londoners who have joined with Searchlight and local community groups in opposing this divisive demonstration.
"Legitimate protest is healthy. Violence and intimidation are not."
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