Police chiefs and council officials making huge budget cuts are facing a £1 million bill for an English Defence League march planned for the same day as a key Midland football derby.
With massive police and council job losses expected as the authorities try to slash spending local MPs have called for Home Secretary Theresa May to ban the march.
Taking place on March 19, the same day Wolverhampton Wanderers play Aston Villa at Villa Park, police resources are set to be stretched to the limit.
A recent EDL demonstration in Luton left police with a £800,000 bill as the force had to ship in officers from 27 other forces. And two protests by the EDL to Dudley last year cost West Midlands Police and Dudley Council £1.1 million in resources.
When the anti-Islamic group visited Birmingham in September 2009 it ended in violence and 90 arrests when the far right campaigners clashed in running battles with members of the United Against Fascism (UAF) group.
MPs say the potential for trouble on March 19 is heightened because of the Wolves Villa derby – two clubs with a history of trouble with hooligans.
Selly Oak Labour MP Steve McCabe said it was time for Theresa May to use her powers to ban the march.
“I’ve not been in favour of a blanket ban on the EDL before but on this occasion I think it should be imposed,” he said.
“You have a group of people with a track record of violence on the same day as a local derby and we know football matches are a prime recruiting ground for the EDL.”
Joining him in his call was MP Khalid Mahmood (Lab, Perry Barr) who said if the Home Secretary did not ban the march, she should provide West Midlands Police with extra officers or cash.
“We’re talking about community safety here. Every time the EDL go to a town there is violence and trouble,” he said.
“If the demonstration does go ahead, then extra resources should be made available to the police.
“It is the duty of Birmingham City Council to apply for a ban to ensure its citizens going about their business that day are not put at risk.”
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: “The Home Secretary will consider an application to ban the EDL demonstration only if she has an application to do so by West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council.”
The EDL announced its intention to visit Birmingham on its Facebook page – despite vowing never to return to the city following its 2009 clash because the city was “too violent” for them.
The EDL could not be contacted for comment.
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We have not received any formal notification from the EDL that they intend to hold a demonstration so we cannot comment.
“But we continue to work with partner agencies to monitor these and have adequate resources should such a protest take place.”
Birmingham
