The English Defence League (EDL) says it plans to defy a government ban on a planned march by the right-wing group in Leicester. The EDL called the move an infringement of its human rights and said it would march on Saturday.
The ban was imposed after concerns were raised by Leicestershire Police’s chief constable. It prevents any group marching in the city on that date, but does not prohibit static protests, such as those that took place in Bradford in August.
EDL spokesman Guradit Singh called the government decision “a breach of freedom of speech” and “bang out of order”. He said the organisation would march, and added that it was withdrawing its liaisons with Leicestershire Police.
The Home Office said anyone who organises a prohibited march could be jailed for six months or face a £2,500 fine, while anyone found guilty of taking part in such a rally could be fined up to £1,000. It also said the EDL had made similar threats in the past, but had not gone through with them.