Police chief hits out at right-wing protesters after city centre violence
Sep 7 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail
UNDER-fire West Midlands Police chief Chris Sims today hit out at right-wing protesters who he said sparked violent scenes in Birmingham, predicting they would “run out of steam”.
As criticism mounted over the way the demonstration was handled, Chief Constable Sims defended his officers and said “the people of Birmingham rose above the provocation by the English Defence League (EDL)”.
A total of 90 people were arrested on Saturday afternoon as members of anti-Islamic extremist EDL group clashed on the streets with Unite Against Facism (UAF) protestors.
The arrests were approximately 50:50 of people attached to both groups, and police were today targeting other trouble makers behind the mob violence that hit Birmingham city centre for the second time in a month.
Expressing pride in the officers involved in the policing operation, Mr Sims said: “Firmly policed, EDL elements from across the country showed their true colours and some 45 of their number were arrested.
“The communities of Birmingham and members of UAF did not dignify the EDL by offering a formal counter protest.
“They sent an unmistakable message to those who seek to gnaw away at the foundations of our vibrant, multi-cultural city.
“This left English Defence League members frustrated and isolated.”
