Police ban UKIP protest over fears for safety of Muslims in London

Scotland Yard has stepped in to prevent a UKIP protest from going ahead due to concerns for the safety of people in Tower Hamlets, east London. The event was due to happen on Saturday (October 25), but the Metropolitan Police said today that UKIP's action can't be held anywhere in the borough after conditions were imposed under the Public Order Act.

The protest would have been part of a series of events around Britain promoted by UKIP as a "mass deportations tour". The organisers have described it as a "crusade", calling on attendees to "reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists". A counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism and local groups was also planned.

Met Police commander Nick John said Tower Hamlets has the largest percentage of Muslim residents anywhere in the UK and the prospect of the protest happening in the heart of the borough has been the cause of significant concern locally.

He added: "It is our assessment that there is a realistic prospect of serious disorder if it was to go ahead in the proposed location.

"This is in addition to the disruption that two large protests taking place on a key arterial route through east London would cause."

Mr John said the Met has a responsibility to use the powers available to the force to take steps to avoid both outcomes.

He added UKIP would be free to organise their protest elsewhere, but they "will not be holding it" in Tower Hamlets.

The Met commander warned anyone who tries to assemble, in breach of the conditions, or who encourages others to do so, will face arrest.

He added the Met will still have a "sizeable" police presence in the area on Saturday to keep the public safe, to enforce the conditions and deal with any other incidents.

UKIP accused the Met of violating its democratic right to peaceful assembly and it would move the event to another part of London.

It said the decision came less than a week after West Midlands Police banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a match against Aston Villa.

Birmingham's safety advisory group, the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for every match at Villa Park, last week said no away fans would be allowed to attend.

The Israeli side has said it won't accept tickets for its fans but Downing Street suggested it still sees hope for Maccabi Tel Aviv fans to attend next month's Europa League clash.

In a statement posted on social media, UKIP claimed British police were caving into "sectarian violence across the country", which the party said was unacceptable.

It added: "The Met must decide who is in charge of police strategy, police commanders or Islamist 'community leaders'."

UKIP said the announcement was "another blow" for democracy, but it would not be "deterred or stopped" from taking the country back.