Police in Derbyshire have urged the British National Party (BNP) to tell them where in the county they intend to hold their annual conference.
On Tuesday, the party confirmed it would hold its conference in South Derbyshire in December but would not confirm an exact location.
Supt Gary Parkin said the force needed to put in place "appropriate resources" near the venue.
Continue reading the main story
The BNP said Derbyshire had been chosen because of its central location.
Cost implications
John Walker, press spokesman for the BNP, said the actual location had not been finalised.
He said: "We've got quite a lot of members in the Derbyshire area and the east and West Midlands. It is a popular area for us and a central location.
"Things are still in the planning stages and this is the decision the party hierarchy has made, possibly on security grounds."
He added they would be expecting about 500 people to attend the conference.
Mr Parkin said: "We need to know what sort of venue this will be at and how many people will attend so we can start the planning stage and put the appropriate resources in place.
"Every event has a cost but this is a party that attracts a certain degree of protest so there will be costs involved. We are in touch constantly with the BNP to see if we can confirm or deny where it will be held," he said.
For three years Denby in Derbyshire hosted the party's Red White and Blue Festival, which in 2009 cost about £500,000 to police.
BBC News
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Czech Court Gives Record Sentence for Racial Crime
A court in the northeastern Czech city of Ostrava Wednesday gave the country’s longest-ever sentence for a racial crime, finding four Czech neo-Nazi sympathizers guilty of setting fire to a Roma family’s house, in which a two-year-old girl suffered severe burns.
After a trial that began in May, the court sentenced the four men to 20 and 22 years in high-security prison for attempted murder and damage to property. They were also sentenced to pay nearly $1 million in damages and hospital costs to the Roma family. All four appealed the sentence.
The arson attack on the Romas, or gypsies, happened in the northeastern Czech town of Vitkov on April 19, 2009 — a day before the 120th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s death.
The attack stoked fears among the public of growing activity of ultra-right and neo-Nazi groups in the Czech Republic. Most of the Czech society of nearly 11 million have been outraged by the assault that intimidated the country’s largely impoverished and ostracized Roma community, estimated at about 300,000 people.
During the televised trial of the four arsonists, prosecutors showed evidence that the four men, between 22 and 26 years of age, were members or sympathizers of illegal Nazi extremist groups, and that they threw homemade Molotov cocktails at the house with an intention to take lives.
“The culprits chose the night, the house and the three centers of the fire with the intention to kill the people in the house, or to make their rescue difficult,” Miloslav Studnicka, a judge from the regional Ostrava court presiding over the trial, said during the sentence delivery.
Two adults were injured during the fire, but a toddler named Natalka suffered burns on 80% of her body and was released from hospital care nearly eight months after the attack. (Photos and a Czech article on the trial here.)
The judge went on to describe the crime as explicitly motivated by racial and ethnic hatred.
“[Perpetrators] committed the crime (…) in an exceptionally cruel and painful way, on people younger than 15 years of age, and because of their ethnicity,” the judge said.
Wall Street Journal Blog
After a trial that began in May, the court sentenced the four men to 20 and 22 years in high-security prison for attempted murder and damage to property. They were also sentenced to pay nearly $1 million in damages and hospital costs to the Roma family. All four appealed the sentence.
The arson attack on the Romas, or gypsies, happened in the northeastern Czech town of Vitkov on April 19, 2009 — a day before the 120th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s death.
The attack stoked fears among the public of growing activity of ultra-right and neo-Nazi groups in the Czech Republic. Most of the Czech society of nearly 11 million have been outraged by the assault that intimidated the country’s largely impoverished and ostracized Roma community, estimated at about 300,000 people.
During the televised trial of the four arsonists, prosecutors showed evidence that the four men, between 22 and 26 years of age, were members or sympathizers of illegal Nazi extremist groups, and that they threw homemade Molotov cocktails at the house with an intention to take lives.
“The culprits chose the night, the house and the three centers of the fire with the intention to kill the people in the house, or to make their rescue difficult,” Miloslav Studnicka, a judge from the regional Ostrava court presiding over the trial, said during the sentence delivery.
Two adults were injured during the fire, but a toddler named Natalka suffered burns on 80% of her body and was released from hospital care nearly eight months after the attack. (Photos and a Czech article on the trial here.)
The judge went on to describe the crime as explicitly motivated by racial and ethnic hatred.
“[Perpetrators] committed the crime (…) in an exceptionally cruel and painful way, on people younger than 15 years of age, and because of their ethnicity,” the judge said.
Wall Street Journal Blog
Wilders has already been found guilty, says his lawyer in 14 hour speech (Netherlands)
Anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders should never have been taken to court on inciting hatred charges because he has already been found guilty, the MP's lawyer Bram
Moszkowicz was outlining the defence's case at the MP's trial in Amsterdam.
The lawyer said Amsterdam appeal court had already found the MP guilty in January 2009, when it ruled in favour of a group of individuals and organisations who wanted to see Wilders prosecuted.
Not guilty
The public prosecution department, which last week said the MP should be found not-guilty on all counts, had decided not to take him to court, saying there was no case against him.
Moszkowicz said that appeal court ruling meant Wilders could not have a fair trial. It is a 'scandal' that the court has already ruled Wilders to be an Islamaphobe, the lawyer said.
'Judges, a previous court has already decided that Wilders' statements are insulting to Muslims,' Moszkowicz, who estimates his full testimony will take 14 hours, said.
Galileo
In addition, Moszkowicz said it is important to note that at least some of the statements made by Wilders are true. He likened the MP to Galileo, who went against established church teachings in the 17th century when he argued the sun did not revolve around the earth.
'Do not shoot the messenger,' Nos tv quoted the lawyer as saying.
Moszkowicz spoke for six hours on Tuesday and is expected to speak for eight on Thursday when the trial resumes, Nos said.
Dutch News
Moszkowicz was outlining the defence's case at the MP's trial in Amsterdam.
The lawyer said Amsterdam appeal court had already found the MP guilty in January 2009, when it ruled in favour of a group of individuals and organisations who wanted to see Wilders prosecuted.
Not guilty
The public prosecution department, which last week said the MP should be found not-guilty on all counts, had decided not to take him to court, saying there was no case against him.
Moszkowicz said that appeal court ruling meant Wilders could not have a fair trial. It is a 'scandal' that the court has already ruled Wilders to be an Islamaphobe, the lawyer said.
'Judges, a previous court has already decided that Wilders' statements are insulting to Muslims,' Moszkowicz, who estimates his full testimony will take 14 hours, said.
Galileo
In addition, Moszkowicz said it is important to note that at least some of the statements made by Wilders are true. He likened the MP to Galileo, who went against established church teachings in the 17th century when he argued the sun did not revolve around the earth.
'Do not shoot the messenger,' Nos tv quoted the lawyer as saying.
Moszkowicz spoke for six hours on Tuesday and is expected to speak for eight on Thursday when the trial resumes, Nos said.
Dutch News
POLICE CALL FOR TIGHTENED BORDER CONTROL (Denmark)
Border control officers say large numbers of illegal immigrants come to Denmark via Sweden
Border control police at Copenhagen Airport say they are frustrated at the amount of illegal immigrants who enter Denmark each day from Sweden due to a lack of border control, reports Jyllands-Posten newspaper. Airport police believe that a lack of border control means that between 300-400 people illegally enter the country each day. According to the police, illegal immigrants come to Denmark on the train from Malmö, Sweden. The figures, according to police, have been compiled during an effort to prevent illegal immigration that started in February 2009. As part of the effort, five officers board the train at Copenhagen Airport. On average, they are able to identify five illegal immigrants by the time the train arrives at the next stop. The police also point out that illegal immigrants are likely to be travelling by car over the Øresund Bridge. Airport police have proposed putting 200 police officers into a control department in the capital, which would then monitor activity and make arrests if necessary. The move has already received backing from the right-wing Danish People’s Party.
CPHPost
Border control police at Copenhagen Airport say they are frustrated at the amount of illegal immigrants who enter Denmark each day from Sweden due to a lack of border control, reports Jyllands-Posten newspaper. Airport police believe that a lack of border control means that between 300-400 people illegally enter the country each day. According to the police, illegal immigrants come to Denmark on the train from Malmö, Sweden. The figures, according to police, have been compiled during an effort to prevent illegal immigration that started in February 2009. As part of the effort, five officers board the train at Copenhagen Airport. On average, they are able to identify five illegal immigrants by the time the train arrives at the next stop. The police also point out that illegal immigrants are likely to be travelling by car over the Øresund Bridge. Airport police have proposed putting 200 police officers into a control department in the capital, which would then monitor activity and make arrests if necessary. The move has already received backing from the right-wing Danish People’s Party.
CPHPost
U TO DROP LEGAL THREAT AGAINST FRANCE OVER ROMA EXPULSIONS (UK)
EU justice chief Viviane Reding will recommend that the European Commission drop a threat of legal action against France over its Roma crackdown after the French government vowed to change national legislation, an EU official has said.
European Union justice chief Viviane Reding will withdraw Tuesday a legal threat against France over its expulsions of Roma migrants but her probe into discrimination remains open, an EU official said. Reding found that France had given "sufficient" assurances that it would modify its national legislation in order to better apply EU law on the free movement of EU citizens, the official said on condition of anonymity. "The examination of the French response is over and Mrs. Reding has reached the conclusion that it met the demands of the European Commission," the official told AFP. Reding will recommend that the commission, the guardian of EU treaties, drop the legal threat when the EU's 27 commissioners meet later Tuesday, the source said. France met a deadline last Friday set by the European Commission to give assurances that it would fall in line with EU laws on freedom of movement or face legal action. Reding, however, will continue her investigation into whether France violated anti-discrimination laws during controversial summer deportations of Roma migrants from France to Romania and Bulgaria, the EU source said. The commission has not brandished the threat of legal action for discriminatory practices.
Reding was a vocal critic of the French government over the Roma issue, going as far as drawing a parallel with World War II deportations, a comparison that caused tensions between Paris and Brussels. The controversy boiled over on September 16 when Sarkozy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso verbally clashed at a summit of EU leaders, but the two sides have since sought to cool things down. Paris insists there was nothing racist in the moves against the Roma, saying they were rounded up simply because they had overstayed the period they were allowed to stay in France without any visible means of financial support. At the centre of the row between Reding and Paris was a controversial French government memo dated August 5 ordering police chiefs to clear 300 camps or illegal settlements within three months, saying "Roma camps are a priority." France has since amended the document and Reding has expressed regret for the wartime comparison.
AFP
European Union justice chief Viviane Reding will withdraw Tuesday a legal threat against France over its expulsions of Roma migrants but her probe into discrimination remains open, an EU official said. Reding found that France had given "sufficient" assurances that it would modify its national legislation in order to better apply EU law on the free movement of EU citizens, the official said on condition of anonymity. "The examination of the French response is over and Mrs. Reding has reached the conclusion that it met the demands of the European Commission," the official told AFP. Reding will recommend that the commission, the guardian of EU treaties, drop the legal threat when the EU's 27 commissioners meet later Tuesday, the source said. France met a deadline last Friday set by the European Commission to give assurances that it would fall in line with EU laws on freedom of movement or face legal action. Reding, however, will continue her investigation into whether France violated anti-discrimination laws during controversial summer deportations of Roma migrants from France to Romania and Bulgaria, the EU source said. The commission has not brandished the threat of legal action for discriminatory practices.
Reding was a vocal critic of the French government over the Roma issue, going as far as drawing a parallel with World War II deportations, a comparison that caused tensions between Paris and Brussels. The controversy boiled over on September 16 when Sarkozy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso verbally clashed at a summit of EU leaders, but the two sides have since sought to cool things down. Paris insists there was nothing racist in the moves against the Roma, saying they were rounded up simply because they had overstayed the period they were allowed to stay in France without any visible means of financial support. At the centre of the row between Reding and Paris was a controversial French government memo dated August 5 ordering police chiefs to clear 300 camps or illegal settlements within three months, saying "Roma camps are a priority." France has since amended the document and Reding has expressed regret for the wartime comparison.
AFP
Politicians slam BNP plan for annual conference (UK)
Mainstream politicians have blasted the British National Party (BNP) for announcing plans to hold its annual conference in South Derbyshire.
The district’s Tory MP and council leader joined forces with a former Labour Parliamentary hopeful to attack the controversial right-wingers after their leader, Nick Griffin, said his party intended to stage its gathering from December 10 to 12 ‘at a first-class venue’ in the area.
They expressed fears that the BNP’s ‘politics of hate’ may upset harmonious race relations in an area which had consistently rejected the party’s beliefs at the ballot box.
However, it was also suggested the conference may not go ahead because of the BNP’s allegedly parlous financial state, with one saying that debt collectors were more likely to attend than members.
Bob Wheeler, the leader of South Derbyshire District Council, described the BNP’s plans as ‘very disappointing news’.
“We’ve got a very proud record of good race relations in South Derbyshire and anything likely to disturb that is very bad news,” he said.
“I suppose it’s a free country, and we welcome that, but we hope everybody’s behaviour will be so as to maintain harmony – but given their track record we have our doubts.
“It’s not welcome, but I’m sure many political viewpoints that I don’t approve of are expounded; however, as long as they are done so within the law we should not ban them.”
Councillor Wheeler said he was certain the council would be briefed by the police on whatever action, if any, was required.
“Hopefully no action will be necessary and they have their conference in some cosy corner outside South Derbyshire,” he said.
His wife, Heather, the district’s MP, said she opposed the BNP’s policies but accepted it had the right to stage the conference wherever it liked as the party had not been banned.
“We all know that they’ve been going through difficult times and I doubt that this will help their cause at all,” she said.
“But at least one tourist venue in South Derbyshire will feel the benefit.”
Ruth Smeeth, who stood for Labour in Burton at the General Election, and is a long-standing opponent of the BNP, backed her Tory opponents’ comments.
“I’m totally disgusted that the BNP are bringing their politics of hate to South Derbyshire.
“We’ve seen from election results in the area that their politics are not welcome here.”
However, the former Parliamentary hopeful added: “Given the BNP’s current financial status it’s more likely that debt collectors will turn up than the public.”
Burton Mail
The district’s Tory MP and council leader joined forces with a former Labour Parliamentary hopeful to attack the controversial right-wingers after their leader, Nick Griffin, said his party intended to stage its gathering from December 10 to 12 ‘at a first-class venue’ in the area.
They expressed fears that the BNP’s ‘politics of hate’ may upset harmonious race relations in an area which had consistently rejected the party’s beliefs at the ballot box.
However, it was also suggested the conference may not go ahead because of the BNP’s allegedly parlous financial state, with one saying that debt collectors were more likely to attend than members.
Bob Wheeler, the leader of South Derbyshire District Council, described the BNP’s plans as ‘very disappointing news’.
“We’ve got a very proud record of good race relations in South Derbyshire and anything likely to disturb that is very bad news,” he said.
“I suppose it’s a free country, and we welcome that, but we hope everybody’s behaviour will be so as to maintain harmony – but given their track record we have our doubts.
“It’s not welcome, but I’m sure many political viewpoints that I don’t approve of are expounded; however, as long as they are done so within the law we should not ban them.”
Councillor Wheeler said he was certain the council would be briefed by the police on whatever action, if any, was required.
“Hopefully no action will be necessary and they have their conference in some cosy corner outside South Derbyshire,” he said.
His wife, Heather, the district’s MP, said she opposed the BNP’s policies but accepted it had the right to stage the conference wherever it liked as the party had not been banned.
“We all know that they’ve been going through difficult times and I doubt that this will help their cause at all,” she said.
“But at least one tourist venue in South Derbyshire will feel the benefit.”
Ruth Smeeth, who stood for Labour in Burton at the General Election, and is a long-standing opponent of the BNP, backed her Tory opponents’ comments.
“I’m totally disgusted that the BNP are bringing their politics of hate to South Derbyshire.
“We’ve seen from election results in the area that their politics are not welcome here.”
However, the former Parliamentary hopeful added: “Given the BNP’s current financial status it’s more likely that debt collectors will turn up than the public.”
Burton Mail
Five arrested over racist attack in Chester (UK)
Five people, including two teenage girls, have been arrested after a man was subjected to a racist attack as he admired a friend's car in Chester.
He was shoved to the ground, kicked and hit with a shoe while his attackers shouted racist abuse at him and his friends, Cheshire Police said.
Police have released the five on bail until December.
They are two girls, aged 16 and 17, two women aged 22 and 34, and a 39-year-old man.
Police have appealed for anyone with information about the attack to contact them.
BBC News
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