Police will not seek to ban another proposed Stop Islamisation of Europe protest rally in Harrow.
The proposed protest is scheduled to take place in December and Mr William Goddard , Media and Public Relations Manager, Harrow Borough said police had 'no legislative basis' to ban the march.
However, he said police would provide 'a proportionate and appropriate police response, to ensure the safety of both local people and the protesters'.
In a statement today (October 2) Mr Goddard said: "We have been contacted by a representative from Stop Islamisation of Europe notifying police of their intention to hold a protest in Harrow on Sunday 13 December 2009.
"At the earliest opportunity we contacted our partners including Harrow Central Mosque and Harrow Council to make them aware of this notification.
"We are not seeking to ban the proposed protest as there is no legislative basis to do so.
"Neither the police nor the Home Secretary have any power to ban static demonstrations aside from those on private property.
"We will attempt to work with the organisers of all protests to provide a proportionate and appropriate police response, to ensure the safety of both local people and the protesters and to minimise the disruption to day-to-day life in Harrow."
Cllr Susan Hall, Harrow Council's portfolio holder for the environment, said: "Given the disturbing scenes we witnessed in Harrow on September the 11th, this is clearly unwelcome news.
"Harrow has an excellent record on race relations and the last thing we want is for our borough to be used as a stage for outside agitators - either political hardliners or groups of young Muslim people who arrive here intent on trouble.
"We have no tolerance for intolerance in Harrow, either from the political fringe or those who misuse religion for a violent agenda. We profoundly hope the organisers of this next demonstration will think again and call it off."
