Greater Manchester (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Mayor Andy Burnham said that ‘Hundreds and thousands’ of individuals in Greater Manchester have been left ‘looking over their shoulder’ as they exit their homes following far-right protests over the weekend.
What Actions Is Mayor Burnham Taking Against Far-Right Violence?
The Mayor preached members of the press alongside deputy mayor for policing Kate Green and Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig. In his speech, Mr Burnham thanked Greater Manchester Police officials for their work over the weekend and expressed he would ‘personally ensure’ that the staff would get ‘all the resources they require to maintain control’.
How Did Far-Right Protests Impact Greater Manchester Residents?
Missiles were tossed in Bolton, during a protest where the far-right clashed with counter-demonstrators. A day before, police fought with demonstrators in Piccadilly Gardens, with resistance breaking out following a demonstration. A total of 23 detentions have so far been made following the brutality in both parts of the city region.
What Are the Consequences for Offenders in Greater Manchester?
Mr Burnham stated: “People are being brought before the courts today and will persist to be brought before them for the rest of this week. Many more offenders are being recognised.
“More entrances will be knocked on, and more criminals will be brought to justice. “There is not, and there will never be, two-tier policing in Greater Manchester. Crime is criminality. If you break the rule, you will face the consequences, it’s as easy as that.”
Concluding his speech, the mayor said: “This morning there were hundreds and thousands of people in our city region who will have gone out of their doors to work, looking over their shoulder. “Just think about that for one minute and what that must feel like. Some of the people taking to the streets and shouting ‘we want our country back’ in fact want to make it something it has never been before a place where people fear for their safety going about their everyday business. We must not and we will not let them prevail.”
What Does Mayor Burnham Say About Counter-Protests
Replying questions following the closing of speeches, the Greater Manchester mayor stated morale was ‘high’ in GMP – but encouraged those planning to counter-protest the far-right protests to stay away.
He stated: “The emphasis is always on friendly protest – not on confrontation, and occasionally the counter-protests can lead to conflict and the flashpoint that those who are arriving to the city are looking for. It can get the oxygen of publicity to what they are speaking, so I just am asking people to think twice about doing that – this is a tough situation, we need to be reducing the temperature not increasing it, we need to be completing the job of GMP easier not harder, and I expect that’s a message that everybody in Greater Manchester will comprehend.”