Police divide rival rallies

The Anti-Nazi League rally is to counter a BNP demo

Police chiefs have announced plans to drive rival race groups apart at rallies in mid Wales in a bid to prevent violence.

The British National Party is holding a weekend "family festival" near Welshpool in Powys and the Anti-Nazi League has planned a counter-demonstration at the site.

My concern is that a small village like Llanerfyl will see more than 2,000 people who could cause public disorder

Terence Grange, Dyfed-Powys Police

Dyfed-Powys Police said it would not allow the ANL to go ahead with their planned march to the BNP's site on a field in the tiny village of Llanerfyl because local residents feared serious public order offences would take place.

Instead, their demonstration will be allowed to happen 15 miles away, in the town of Welshpool, and numbers have been limited to 400.

But ANL members are furious and are considering taking legal action to overturn the police ban.

The police force has cancelled all staff leave and brought in reinforcements from other forces in a large-scale operation designed to see off the sort of violence seen during summer race riots in the north of England.

Riot hotspots

The Bradford riots in July were sparked by Anti-Nazi League demonstrations against the National Front.

Dyfed-Powys Chief Constable Terence Grange said he had been informed that protesters from Oldham, Blackburn and other recent hotspots had been recruited to join the demonstration and they feared it would result in violence.

Running street battles during riots in Bradford

He said: "Any person who organises or takes part in an assembly and fails to comply with a condition under this section is guilty of an offence and will be liable to arrest."

But the ANL's Claire Dissington said the police's ruling was "completely outrageous."

She said: "They are happy for 500 Nazis to descend on Powys but they are only allowing only 400 anti-Nazis in the area as long as they are 12 miles away.

"I see no reason why there cannot be a demonstration in Llanerfyl. These are the people who are whipping up racial hatred. People in Powys don't want this happening."

The BNP's "Red, White and Blue 2001" event is billed as a "family festival" of white British culture.

These are the people who are whipping up racial hatred

Claire Dissington, Anti-Nazi League

Spread over Saturday and Sunday, it will be held in a field adjacent to Y Gribyn farm owned by BNP chairman Nick Griffin, who has promised face-painting and events for children as well as political seminars.

Because it is held on private land in the village, which has around 200 residents, police cannot ban the event under Human Rights Act provisions.

Mr Grange said: "My duty is to ensure that both sides of this argument are able to express their views.

"My concern is that a small village like Llanerfyl, with less than 200 occupants, will see more than 2,000 people who could cause public disorder."

But the ANL's Ms Dissington confirmed that people from towns hit by the recent riots would be attending the group's Welshpool event because "they have seen what the BNP have done in their towns."

Marches banned

Home Secretary David Blunkett has already banned marches in five towns across England, following requests from local authorities and police.

Marches have been banned in Birmingham, Bradford, Burnley, Oldham and Blackburn for three months.

A spokesman for Powys County Council said: "We appreciate the concerns being raised about this event.

"However the British National Party event is being held on private land and this authority does not have the legal powers to ban this event."