Ban on protest marches starts in London

A 30-day ban on protest marches goes into force on Friday in five 'troubled' boroughs of London. The Metropolitan Police Service obtained on August 26 the consent of the Home Secretary to prohibit protest marches in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Islington, and Hackney starting September 2. All five boroughs were in the heart of violent riots and looting that hit London and several other British cities on August 6-10, leaving over 100 police officers injured. The disturbances were triggered by the shooting dead of London resident and suspected drug dealer Mark Duggan. More than 1,600 people were detained during the ensuing rioting. "This decision has been made based on specific intelligence and information which has led us to believe that serious public disorder, violence and damage could be caused by the presence of marches in these areas," the London police said in an earlier statement. The English Defense League (EDL), a far-right street protest movement which opposes what it perceives as the spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in England, has announced plans to hold rallies over the weekend in London. The prohibition is under section 13 of the Public Order Act which gives the Commissioner the power to do so with the consent of the Home Secretary in order to prevent serious public disorder. "The prohibition does not apply to processions that are commonly or customarily held in the area or funeral processions," police said.