Date: 16 August 2008
Police arrest 33 people following protests at Denby in Derbyshire
Thirty three people have been arrested today (Saturday, August 16) following protests against the British National Party's Red, White and Blue event at Denby in Derbyshire.
The majority of the arrests were made after two incidents, which were not connected with the main protest and march through Codnor (near to Denby).
The first incident was on Breach Road, Denby, at about 11am, when a group of about 40 protesters tried to barricade the road to stop access. When police arrived stones were thrown at the officers who made six arrests for violent disorder.
The rest of the protesters dispersed over the fields and at about 12 noon confronted police on Kensington Avenue at Heanor where further disorder occurred. Twenty arrests were made for offences including violent disorder and breach of bail.
On several occasions stones and other missiles were thrown at officers. None were seriously injured.
The protest and march in Codnor were conducted peacefully by about 400 people but a group blocked the main road at Crosshill, breaching an agreement made earlier with the police not to impede traffic.
ACC Peter Goodman, who was in charge of the policing operation, said: "A small number of people who were not part of the main group seemed intent on causing problems.
"Officers responded quickly and effectively to minimise inconvenience to local people and those attending the RWB event.
"I acknowledge there were delays for road users travelling between Codnor and Loscoe but the illegal actions of the protesters who blocked the road made those delays inevitable."
Two hundred and fifty officers are involved in the policing operation which will continue until tomorrow evening.
Mr Goodman added: "I think our actions today have shown that we will not tolerate disorder of any kind in Derbyshire. We will be continuing our enquiries to identify and trace those people who committed offences but were not arrested today."
Note
The protesters who blocked the road breached Section 14 of the Public Order Act which had been imposed to help prevent serious disorder, serious damage to property and serious disruption to the local community.
