Mike Cunningham
Chief Constable
Staffordshire Police Constabulary
Cannock Road
Staffs
ST17 0QG


Dear Mr Cunningham,

Re: English Defence League protest on 23rd January 2010-01-25

I am writing to you to complain about the behaviour of the Police Officers in attendance at this protest from your force and others neighbouring Police forces.

The English Defence League was once again ‘kettled’ by the police, the Unite Against Fascism was again allowed in the vicinity thereby causing unnecessary tension.

The Police Officers at the front that attempted to line up and stop the English Defence League proceeding any further taunted the members of the English Defence League and used batons/tear gas unnecessarily and ignited the tension already caused by their heavy handed policing.

I can provide evidence of Officers who used these heavy handed tactics and feel that they should be investigated.

Whilst the English Defence League accepts that some members behaved in an inappropriate manner the Officers in question behaved even more inappropriately.

I would also like to point out that our head count was 2000+ members in attendance at the protest and it was only a small minority that conducted themselves badly and this should not reflect on the majority of the English Defence League members who came and peacefully protested.

I would therefore like an explanation as to why Superintendent Dave Mellor felt that it was necessary to allow the ‘kettling’ of the English Defence League and to allow the Officers to behave in the manner in which they did.

Yours sincerely.

Also this is a standard letter to send to the editors of the local North Staffordshire newspaper the Evening Sentinal :

Email address:  newsdesk@thesentinel.co.uk

Dear Sir

Re: We’re here because we want our country back

I refer to the above article in your 25th January 2010 edition. I would like to raise my concern that you have not correctly reported the events of the English Defence League protest held on Saturday 23rd January 2010.

1) One of the main objectives of the English Defence League is that we oppose Islamic Extremists in our country and therefore the chanting of ‘Muslim bombers of our streets’ reflect this opposition that we have to the Islamic Extremists.
2) The English Defence League also opposes Sharia Law and the wearing of the Burkha but you make no reference to this in your article.
3) There was an element within the English Defence League gatherers that did not adhere to the guidelines and protocol set out by us prior to a march. Most of the English Defence league members are equally upset and disturbed by the behaviour of a few and wish to apologise for the behaviour of others but the English Defence League cannot be held accountable for this reprehensible behaviour and as was seen by your reporter(s) the majority of the English Defence League only wished to protest peacefully and did.
4) The Police, once again, ‘kettled’ the English Defence League protestors and allowed the Unite Against Fascism people to be in the vicinity thereby inciting tension.
5) The Police used force against the people at the front of the demonstration and the resulting actions from this caused a heated situation to ignite.
6) The English Defence League are not a ‘mob’ but a gathering of like minded citizens from all around the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who share the same views and I find your frequent references to us as a ‘mob’ derogatory and unnecessary.
7) If you were following the English Defence League protest you would have noticed that buckets were being taken around to collect for a fellow EDL member who had recently passed away and a Luton Soldier who had been seriously injured in Afghanistan. You make no mention of this nor do you make any mention of the 2 minutes silence that the English Defence League always holds for our fallen soldiers. Of course that would be reporting the perceived good side of the English Defence League and you don’t wish to do that do you?

I trust therefore that you will do another article pointing out that over 2,000 English Defence League members attended a protest at Stoke on Trent and that on the whole the majority peacefully protested, which was all they wished to do. That the English Defence League supports our fallen heroes and that collections were held for a badly injured soldier to assist his family with the expenses that they had paid out. Finally and most importantly what the aims and objectives of the English Defence League are and as you do not seem to know these they can be found on:
 http://www.englishdefenceleague.co.uk/