LIB DEMS QUIZ MET POLICE OVER EID FLAG WAVING BAN

4.18.33pm GMT Tue 18th Jan 2005

London Assembly Liberal Democrats today voiced concerns about plans by the Met Police to ban flags during celebrations for Eid.

In a letter to the Ealing Borough Police Commander and the soon to be Met Police Commissioner, Liberal Democrat member of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), Lynne Featherstone, has posed a series of questions to find out whether a blanket ban has been imposed will be imposed during the Eid celebrations of the 21 and 22 January and if so what it would entail.

Questions Ms Featherstone has put to the Met include:

"h Is my understanding that a blanket ban on the waving of national flags has been imposed correct?

"h If no blanket ban is envisaged, what controls on the waving of flags are being imposed, and what factors will be taken into account by officers before taking steps to intervene?

"h Under what circumstances would the waving of a national flag constitute a breach of the peace?

"h Is the ban being enforced against all national flags, or only some?

"h What consultation, if any, was undertaken with local community and religious leaders on the ban?

"h What legal advice was sought, and received, prior to the taking of this decision?

"h On what evidence of previous disorder associated with the waving of national flags has this decision been taken?

Lynne Featherstone said:-

¡§If these reports are correct, the Met has some serious questions to answer. There has been no ban on the waving of national flags at anything other than sports events before, as the waving of a national flag is by itself unlikely to constitute a breach of the peace. It is absurd that someone can be criminalized simply for waving a flag.

¡§I fully understand that the police must act to prevent breaches of the peace, but I am concerned that the measure against the waving of national flags, could prove discriminatory against members of West London¡¦s Muslim community.

¡§If this move by the Met is fully implemented it could set a worrying precedent and send out the wrong messages to ethnic communities right across London.¡¨

ENDS

Notes to editor

According to reports on the BBC online website, police have claimed that waving flags during Eid celebrations in Southall, west London, on 21 and 22 January could provoke violence and racial tensions.

The Met said anyone who persisted in ignoring the ban could be arrested for breaching the peace.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4167765.stm

A copy of the letter can be found below

Chief Supt Martin Bridger

67-69 Uxbridge Road

LONDON

W5 5SJ

Dear Chief Supt Bridger

BAN ON NATIONAL FLAGS

I am writing in my capacity as a Member of the Metropolitan Police Authority¡¦s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board, and a London-wide Member of the London Assembly.

I was concerned to read press reports that police in Ealing have decided to ¡¥ban¡¦ the waving of national flags during the celebration of the Muslim festival of Eid towards the end of this week (BBC online, 12th January; Telegraph 13th January).

As I understand it, no ban on the waving of national flags has been put in place before, outside of sports events, probably in recognition of the fact that the waving of a national flag, by itself, is unlikely to constitute a breach of the peace.

I appreciate the responsibility of the police to act against breaches of the peace, but I am concerned that the measure against the waving of national flags, as outlined in the press, could prove discriminatory against particular members of West London¡¦s community. I would be surprised, for example, if such a ban would be countenanced where the flag likely to be waved is the Union Jack or St. George. I am also concerned at the precedent this sets, and the proportionality of the measure.

In view of my concerns, I would be very grateful if you could answer the following questions:

"h Is my understanding that a blanket ban on the waving of national flags has been imposed correct?

"h If no blanket ban is envisaged, what controls on the waving of flags are being imposed, and what factors will be taken into account by officers before taking steps to intervene?

"h Under what circumstances would the waving of a national flag constitute a breach of the peace?

"h Is the ban being enforced against all national flags, or only some?

"h What consultation, if any, was undertaken with local community and religious leaders on the ban?

"h What legal advice was sought, and received, prior to the taking of this decision?

"h On what evidence of previous disorder associated with the waving of national flags has this decision been taken?

I have copied this letter to the Deputy Commissioner, for his views, as well as reassurance that, were this policy to be replicated across the MPS, either this year or in future, he will seek the advice of the MPA on the matter in due course.

I look forward to your response.

-----------------------------------------

Sir Ian Blair

Deputy Commissioner

New Scotland Yard

Broadway

London SW1H 0BG

Dear Deputy Commissioner

BAN ON NATIONAL FLAGS

I enclose a copy of a letter I have just sent to the Borough Commander in Ealing about press reports that a local ban on the waving of flags has been imposed.

I draw your attention to the particular questions I have asked him to answer, in view of my concerns. I would be grateful if you could let me know if the MPS has a corporate view on these issues?

I would also like your reassurance that you will consult with members of the MPA, whilst I appreciate these matters are in essence operational, given the potential impact on various communities, were such a ban to become commonplace.

I look forward to your response.

Many thanks.

Yours sincerely

Lynne Featherstone

Member of the Metropolitan Police Authority