Arrests at race rallies

Police want to contain anti-Nazi supporters in Welshpool

Police arrested 15 campaigners following rallies by the British National Party and the Anti-Nazi League in a mid Wales town.

There had been fears that the two opposing sides could clash, but trouble was avoided when Dyfed-Powys Police managed to dissuade the ANL from marching near Welshpool town centre.

Over 100 of its members had planned to demonstrate against a planned British National Party (BNP) rally near the village of Llanerfyl, 10 miles away.

These are the people who are whipping up racial hatred. People in Powys don't want this happening. They don't want this rally

Claire Dissington, ANL

A police spokesman said the arrests were for offences ranging from obstruction to drugs possession, but refused to confirm from which organisation the people were from.

A police spokesman said there would be a continuing police presence in the area for the remainder of the weekend.

Earlier, some ANL members had tried to stage a separate demonstration in Llanerfyl, but police turned them away at checkpoints.

The BNP is holding a "family festival" for its members at a private farm near Llanerfyl on Saturday.

The festival, which is taking place next to land owned by BNP leader Nick Griffin, is expected to draw up to 500 of the party's members.

Dyfed Powys Police said they were powerless to prevent the rally from going ahead because it is on private land.

Fears over disorder

Police said the ANL protesters would have to remain at the Gorsedd Stones, an open space near Welshpool railway station, more than 10 miles from Llanerfyl.

They were only allowed to demonstrate between 1000BST and 1600BST on Saturday and will not be able to protest on Sunday.

Chief Constable Terence Grange said they were concerned a public demonstration in the small village of Llanerfyl would result in "serious public disorder".

He said they had been informed that protesters from Oldham, Blackburn and the other recent race riot hotspots had been recruited to join the demonstration.

"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," he said.

Ban

But ANL spokeswoman Claire Dissington said they would defy Sunday's ban.

She said: "It's completely outrageous. The police are sealing off an area to allow the Nazis to run that area for two days.

"These are the people who are whipping up racial hatred. People in Powys don't want this happening. They don't want this rally. Why don't the police stop the BNP rally?"

She said people from areas of northern England where race riots had occurred would be joining the demonstration because "they have seen what the BNP has done in their towns".

Ms Dissington said she believed BNP members who participated in the race riots would also be at the rally, billed as a "family festival" of white British culture.