Policing Large Scale Disorder: Lessons from the disturbances of ...

Ev w58 Home Affairs Committee: Evidence
Bradfordians to approach the protests in a spirit of calm and peace. Places of worship were
visited and the importance of ensuring young white and Asian-heritage men were not drawn
into being provoked by the presence of the EDL in their home town, was emphasised. The
Faith Forum in Bradford also brought different faiths together to deliver a united message and
a consistent voice.
3.2.7 Meetings were also held with key business and community leaders, from a range of cultural
and economic backgrounds, to ensure that these individuals could utilise their influence and
engage positively with grass-roots community activity.
3.2.8 Support was offered to community organisations working with the Council’s youth service and
the Police, to provide diversionary activities for young people on the day of the demonstration.
The depth of planning to “safeguard” our young people is illustrated by the fact that a risk
assessment and diversion plan was developed for every young person regarded as being at risk
of getting involved in the protests, based on shared intelligence across all key agencies.
3.2.9 The Council and the Police developed a media communications strategy through the partnership
District Communications Group well in advance of the protests, which was widely shared and
constantly updated. A secure web based forum called “Huddle” was also set up, allowing all
communication partners to quickly share documents and key messages. Daily “Information
Updates” were also shared via e-mail and on “Huddle” offering bullet points on the latest
situation, media coverage and forthcoming events. The Leader of the Council, Leaders of the
Opposition Groups and local councillors in their community leadership and ward representative
roles, played a pivotal and essential role as key communicators, as did senior police officers.
Many media interviews were conducted jointly by the Bradford South Divisional Commander
and the Leader of the Council through local television, radio and print media. This also included
a series of interviews with Fast FM which was running throughout Ramadan and during the
visit of the EDL. This allowed us to update key sections of the community at relevant times.
Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and You Tube were also significant tools in
providing “real time” messages to the public. For instance, the Bradford South Police Divisional
Commander filmed four videos which were placed on-line before during and after the event to
offer information updates.
3.2.10 The Police and the Council, working with partner organisations across the public private and
third sector sectors, gave clear consistent messages about the protests: at meetings and briefings
for local people, through regular emails that were sent to a wide range of groups and
organisations and via social media networks. We wanted to reassure and support all
communities. We encouraged local people not to be provoked into reacting to these protests by
outsiders, who were using our city centre as a venue and who did not care about the disruption
to local people and businesses or any potential disorder they could cause. We made it clear that
the Police’s role was to facilitate peaceful protest and we would not tolerate any potential
damage to the city or acts of violence. Local people were reminded about the prison sentences
that some Bradfordians had received as a result of the riots in 2001 and the devastating impact
the riots had on individuals, communities and our city. We acknowledged that local people had
a big role to play and asked whatever happened, they should allow the Police and the Council
to manage events, which we could do with the co-ordinated resources at our disposal. We
promised that local people and businesses could have confidence in the Police and the Council
maintaining public safety and could be reassured that the city would be returned to a state of
normality very quickly after the static demonstrations. Both the Police and Council also utilised
their constant relationship with the organisations like the Bradford Council for Mosques,
Mosque Committees and Community Organisations to undertake intensive work with the
Muslim Community. This involved open and honest conversations about the events in 2001,
trust and confidence, mutual understanding and support.
3.2.11 A “Consequences Card” was produced to advise local people about the offences they could be
arrested for, if they allowed themselves to be provoked into violence or criminal behaviour by
protestors. The card also highlighted the total prison sentences given out as a result of the 2001
riots. It was used extensively to discuss issues about the protests with local young people. It
reinforced the message that young people should stay away from the protests, in case they
inadvertently become involved, without thinking about the possible long-term consequences for
themselves and their futures. This was used to great effect by Youth Services and key personnel
when young people were identified as at risk. The card was also later adapted by Youth Services
and West Yorkshire Police for use in the Calderdale area when the English Defence League
visited for a planned event.
3.2.12 The Council and the Police jointly assessed a number of city centre locations on which to site
the static protests. Bradford Urban Garden was jointly agreed as the most manageable and
appropriate site for the EDL demonstration, in terms of policing, public safety and the
minimising of disruption to the people of Bradford. Potential infrastructure and physical hazards
to safety, like the City Park construction site, were also jointly identified. Building materials and
stones that could potentially be used as weapons were removed. Structures were strengthened,