MURAD QURESHI AM

City HallQueen’s WalkLondon SE1 2AASwitchboard: 020 7983 400Minicom: 020 7983 4458Web:www.london.gov.uk

EDL march and the blanket ban of public processions

I am most concerned about the recent decision to prohibit the holding of allpublic processions in five of our London boroughs for a thirty day period. Myconcern is two-fold: firstly the application by the police under section 13 of thePublic Order Act could have, and in my view, should have specified theparticular class of public procession in the area. This distinction is clearlypermitted by statute and would have avoided the “blanket” ban which hasresulted and which will curtail a number of peaceful marches planned duringthe same period; for example the East End Pride march on the 24

of September and the Cable Street commemoration march on the 2

of October.Secondly, this unnecessarily draconian application of the legislation failed inany event to prevent the EDL from holding a “static” demonstration whicheventually transpired last Saturday and posed no less of a threat of “seriouspublic disorder” as defined by the act.In light of the above and in particular, the very detrimental collateral impact of such a blanket ban, I would urge you to reconsider the Met’s position on thisissue. I therefore ask that you utilise powers conferred under section 13(5) of the Act and to apply for the current order to be revoked or varied so as to bringto an end this unnecessarily far reaching ban.I look forward to hearing from you.

Direct telephone:

020 7983 4400 Fax: 020 7983 5679 Email: murad.qureshi@london.gov.uk

Tim GodwinActing CommissionerMetropolitan Police ServiceNew Scotland Yard8-10 BroadwayLondonSW1H 0BG

6 September 2011

MQ/NS