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Protests at
Liverpool Crown Court against alleged paedophile gang
THE Protests at Liverpool
Crown Court started on Monday, 6 February 2012, with groups from
English Defence League (EDL) and British National Party (BMP) and
also anti-racism groups, who expressed their opposition to the
protest by the EDL and BMP's protests. With a massive media
presence and police presence, many are asking if the protests are
deflecting attention from the case inside.
Before the event the Anthony Walker Foundation, a
leading Liverpool anti-racism organisation, stated:- "The
proposed action of the EDL/BNP which is blatantly intended to
exploit this trial, with no regard for the victims or our country's
justice process, to create and ignite racial tensions in our city
and beyond. However, they underestimate the people of Liverpool if
they think they can achieve this."
Paul Jenkins, North West Unite
Against Fascism organiser also added that:- "The fascist BNP
and EDL's protest is a racist one. The BNP and EDL are trying to
inflame a sensitive situation in order to exploit it for their own
fascist agenda. The National Front used to hold racist protests
under the guise of 'anti-mugging' marches - the BNP/EDL protest is
in the same vein. The fact that they are both protesting exposes the
strong connections between these fascist groups. The response of the
Merseyside community shows that anti-racists are the majority and
the BNP and EDL are not welcome in Liverpool. We urge everyone to
join the dignified counter-protest against the BNP and EDL on Monday
6 Feb, 8.30am onwards, Liverpool Crown Court."
The statement, initiated by
Merseyside Unite Against Fascism also read that:- "BNP and EDL
Not Welcome in Liverpool. They are exploiting a case of 11 Asian men
from Rochdale who have been charged with child exploitation and sex
offences, to bring their racist message to the streets of Liverpool.
We believe that this case is a matter for the police and courts.
Furthermore, the BNP and EDL’s cynical exploitation of the case for
its own ends, does nothing to help the suffering of victims of such
abuse. If the men involved were not Asian then it is clear that this
protest would not be taking place. We believe that the BNP and EDL
are using this case to attempt to whip up racism and foster
division."
In what appears to be a connected
incident, but has not been confirmed one way or another, a man was
arrested outside Liverpool Crown Court the following day, on
Tuesday, 7 February 2012. Merseyside Police have issued a press
release confirming only that a man has been arrested and has been
charged with 1 count of racially aggravated common assault.
Merseyside Police have also named him as Michael Quinn, aged 40, of
Haweswater Drive, Middleton, Greater Manchester.
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Dock workers
were taken to hospital
ON 6 February 2012 the Port
of Liverpool was involved in a chemical incident. The incident was a
result of a spillage of an agricultural chemical that lead to some
dock workers felling ill and emergency services being called. The
substance was later reported to have been a solvent called Pyridine,
which is highly hazardous and has a fish-like odour. Pyridine is
used as a precursor to agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals and is also
an important solvent and reagent and is harmful if inhaled,
swallowed or absorbed through the skin. The effects of acute
pyridine intoxication include dizziness, headache, and lack of
coordination, nausea, salivation and loss of appetite. In rare cases
intoxicate casualties may progress into abdominal pain, pulmonary
congestion and unconsciousness. This volatile solvent is thought to
have leaked out from a tank as it was being unloaded from a cargo
ship, at about 2:40pm at the Royal Seaforth Container Base near
Crosby. 3 ambulances attended and Merseyside Fire Service said it
had sent 2 hazardous materials units to the location. The casualties
who had been on the dock and exposed to the highly flammable
chemical and toxic chemical where treated at the docks and
decontaminated at the scene. Other workers on the location were also
decontaminated and then sent home. Then the affected workers are
said to have been taken to Fazakerley Hospital to be looked at as a
precaution measure, before being sent home to recover. Merseyside
Fire Service then work with the port authority to contain and absorb
the spill by using dry sand. The Health and Safety Executive is
reported to be satisfied that safety procedures were followed. A
spokesman for the Port of Liverpool said an investigation by its own
Health and Safety team, in conjunction with the emergency services
and port police was now underway.
Dangerous Heating Amnesty
AN amnesty on dangerous
heating has being launched by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service for
the elderly in a bid to reduce house fires and deaths. The project
will offer vulnerable pensioners the opportunity to swap their
unsafe heaters for free oil-filled radiators at 7 fire stations
within the Merseyside area, as part of the Dangerous Heating
Exchange Scheme. The scheme is being delivered by the Fire Support
Network, the charitable arm of MF&RS, in conjunction with the fire
service.
According to Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, there are 140 free
radiators available, which will only be given out to people who are
aged 65 and over, who have an old out-dated heater. Each of the 7
fire stations involved will have just 20 heaters to give away, so
they will be available on a first come first serve basis only. They
also warn people that the radiators are heavy and they will need to
provide their own transportation.
Sadly Southport, Crosby, Toxteth and Belle Vale Fire Station have
already given their allocations away, but people can swap their old
or unsafe heaters for new safer radiators at the following stations
on the dates shown:- Huyton Fire Station on Friday, 10 February;
Birkenhead Fire Station on Monday, 13 February and St Helens Fire
Station on Tuesday, 14 February 2012.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said that:- "The radiators
have been provided through partnerships with external companies such
as Dimplex. It coincides with the MF&RS Emergency Heating Campaign,
which is currently providing free radiators to homes of vulnerable
people in Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton."
Phil Garrigan, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Merseyside Fire &
Rescue Service, added that:- "We are delighted to offer people
the opportunity for vulnerable, elderly people to swap their unsafe
heating methods for safer oil-filled radiators. Through the amnesty
we aim to reduce fire deaths caused by dangerous heating and excess
winter deaths resulting from cold conditions."
For more information about the scheme people can call:- 0151 296
4367 or via:-
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