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800 police officers will attend EDL protest rally

More than 800 police officers will be on duty this weekend when rival protest groups hold demonstrations in a town centre.

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Supporters of the English Defence League (EDL) are due to hold a static protest in Leicester Street. Walsall,on Saturday while opposition groups to the EDL, including faith groups, will hold a simultaneous static protest in Gallery Square.

As part of the operation to make sure the protests take place peacefully, officers have identified 42 potential trouble spots, including mosques and pubs, and are concentrating patrols in those areas. They have been handing out leaflets, liaising with community groups and there are also plans in place to keep businesses updated over the course of the day by sending out emails every 45 minutes.

Updates will also be posted on the Twitter site. Details of the opearation were unveiled at a meeting held at West Walsall E-Act Academy, in Primley Avenue, Alumwell, last night.

Chief Insp Mike O'Hara said: "We will be policing by a style of assurance rather than enforcement but we will have the resources to deal with problems if it is necessary.

"I am confident the plans are thought through and comprehensive," he said. Assistant Chief Constable Garry Forsyth, who will lead the police operation, urged residents to go about their normal business in Walsall on the day.

He said: "We want people to feel reassured and in response to community concerns, we will be staging a large-scale operation on the day to ensure that everyone who comes to the town centre can do so in safety.

"Officers will be deployed throughout the town to provide a visible reassurance to retailers, shoppers and all those visiting Walsall.

"Any criminal or public order offences will be robustly dealt with."

Meanwhile, leaders of Walsall's main political parties have issued a joint statement about the planned protest taking place.

Council leader Mike Bird, leader of the Liberal Democrats Ian Shires and Labour leader Tim Oliver said: "Neither West Midlands Police nor the council have powers to ban a static protest.

"The law provides for such static protests so we will work with West Midlands Police to minimise disruption to local people."

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