The 'Big One' (From Gazette Series)

The 'Big One'

By Alison Milner »

The English Defence League promoted their protest in Bradford on 28th August as the 'Big One.’ It certainly was the ‘Big One’ but not in the way the English Defence League intended, as fewer of their supporters came to Bradford than had attended protests in other cities across the country.

It was the ‘Big One’ however for communications colleagues across the public private and third sectors in Bradford as we all worked extremely hard to plan, manage and deliver effective communication through the media, social networking sites and websites, nationally and locally. More traditional forms of communications, including numerous letters, emails, phone calls and meetings were also used extensively in communicating key messages to the people of Bradford, local community groups, businesses and partner organisations. Key messages included:

● The people of Bradford have a right to enjoy their Bank Holiday, without having it disrupted by people from outside our district who have no concern about our community, no concern about our local businesses and no interest in our future.

● The Police and the Council want to reassure and support all communities and encourage them not to be provoked into reacting to the demonstrations.

● The people of Bradford have a big role to play. We ask that whatever is happening, you allow the Police and the Council to manage it, which we can do with the resources at our disposal.

● We’ve all been involved in a detailed planning process for some time to make sure that people could go about their daily lives with as little disruption as possible. This planning and the excellent Police operation maintained public safety, but it has cost the taxpayer, local businesses and local communities many hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Bradford Council, West Yorkshire Police, partner organisations and the vast majority of Bradfordians, welcomed the Home Secretary giving her consent for the Council to impose an order banning any 'public processions’ (marches) in Bradford District over the August bank holiday weekend. Even though the Home Secretary gave her consent it did not prevent static demonstrations taking place,which are still lawful provided they remain peaceful, as there are no legal powers to prevent them.

Bradford Council sought the Home Secretary’s permission to impose this order, after receiving a letter from the Chief Constable asking us to do so and after listening to the views of a wide range of local groups and organisations. Local people showed clearly that they did not want outsiders protesting in their city. 11,000 people signed the petition requesting a ban, organised by Bradford Together and promoted by the local newspaper ‘Telegraph and Argus’, which was handed to the Home Secretary.

A ‘Consequences Card’, produced by West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council, advised local people about the offences they could be arrested for, if they allowed themselves to be provoked into violence or criminal behaviour by protestors.

The card was used to discuss issues about the protests with local young people. It reinforced the message that young people should stay away from the protests, in case they inadvertently become involved without thinking about the possible long-term consequences for themselves and their futures.

Local people showed their opposition, in a peaceful, positive and dignified way, to people from outside the district using their city as a venue for protests. They did this by staying away from the city centre or by joining in the community celebration events and peace vigils or by taking part in a range of neighbourhood activities.

Bradford showed the entire country and beyond that we are proud of our diversity, proud of our past and confident in our abilities to build a prosperous shared future. Bradford District is home to many different places, people and communities, but we have demonstrated that we can face and resolve any challenge together.