UPDATES ON GATHERING IN SHEFFIELD TODAY Today’s events in the centre of Sheffield witnessed both the English Defence League and opposing groups in numbers that totalled around two thousand. Five people have, to date, been arrested for a variety of offences including assault and public order. South Yorkshire Police has a duty to allow for peaceful assembly or protest and over one thousand police officers were on patrol in Sheffield today, to ensure the gatherings passed safely. Considerable negotiation had taken place to allow both groups to achieve their objectives for the day. The EDL were able to lay wreaths and flowers at the Cenotaph at around 1pm and the celebration event in the peace gardens took place without interruption. As the day progressed police faced a considerable challenge in separating the EDL and opposing groups around the West Street area of Sheffield. For a period of time police had to contain both groups in order to minimise what would have been a high likely hood of disorder. The police are currently escorting the EDL group safely out of the centre of Sheffield, to return the city to a normal Saturday afternoon. Police endeavoured to keep disruption to a minimum although the above events included numerous road closures that impacted on the city centre. Police maintained peace as tensions rose and maintained a presence until the initial crowds dispersed. Superintendent Colin McFarlane said: "The gatherings in the city centre today presented officers with a range of challenges to keep the peace. “It is a measure of the success of the operation that only five people have been arrested for relatively minor offences and only one person receiving a slight injury. “ However police will be reviewing CCTV footage and social media to establish if any other offences have been recorded." Chief Superintendent Dave Hartley and John Mothersole, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council said: “We thank the public of Sheffield for their patience and tolerance of what has been a testing day. “ We are pleased the event passed without serious disorder or injury and we are extremely proud of the police officers and council staff , who have showed a huge degree of professionalism and understanding, managing difficult circumstances."
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:54:54 +0000
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