Ready for action: specially trained police were out in force on Wednesday in West Croydon, eventually dealing with about 50 counter-protestors
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has said he is proud of the way Londoners, and the Metropolitan Police, responded to the threat of far-right racist mobs gathering in the capital this week.
‘Proud, proud’: Sadiq Khan had praise for the Met, and for Londoners
At Croydon Council, meanwhile, the £192,000 per year chief exec has issued a memo to staff today reminding them of the importance of wearing their staff lanyards when working in Fisher’s Folly.
Mayor Khan was speaking yesterday after a tense Wednesday night in which more than 1,300 specially trained officers were deployed across London, including dozens of police in Croydon.
Mayor Khan said: “I’m relieved, and proud, proud of our police – they worked incredibly hard not just over the last 24 hours but the last couple of weeks to make sure Londoners are safe.
“More than a thousand police officers making sure the the far-right didn’t succeed in spreading violence, racism and hatred in our city – but also really proud of those Londoners who united to say no to racism and hatred in our city.
“I would like to pay tribute to the outstanding work of our police officers across London. And to those who came out peacefully to show London stands united against racism and Islamaphobia last night – thank you.”
Racists rejected: how the Evening Standard reported this week’s events
Mayor Khan has himself been targeted by huge amounts of anti-Muslim abuse, often from political opponents, some of whom used anti-ULEZ campaigns as a thinly-disguised excuse for racism. That includes in Croydon, where Mayor Jason Perry was an administrator and “expert” on an anti-ULEZ Facebook group where members were allowed free rein to celebrate acts of vandalism and worse…
Last night, Mayor Khan said: “We have seen appalling violence and disorder in towns and cities across the country in recent days, but there was no repeat in our capital.
“The Met has worked tirelessly to make it clear that such violence will not be tolerated and that anyone seeking to engage in disorder and sow division would face the full force of the law.
“I remain in close contact with the Met Commissioner and local people will continue to see an increased police presence across areas of London in the coming days as they seek to reassure and protect our communities.
“I’m clear that there is no place for violence, racism, Islamophobia and antisemitism in our city and we will never let those who seek to divide our communities to win.”
As Inside Croydon reported yesterday, there were 10 arrests in Croydon on Wednesday night, thought to be mostly counter-protestors who resorted to acts of assault or vandalism – described by the police as ” pure anti-social behaviour”. According to police statements, there were no arrests made because the suspect was carrying a weapon.
Shutdown order: the S60 order applied to the whole of Croydon by the Met on Wednesday
The Metropolitan Police has thanked Londoners for “coming together” and for “showing community spirit”.
As the BBC reports today, “None of the far-right groups turned up to the London locations that had been discussed online, but instead, large anti-racism protests were held, with the largest in Waltham Forest and Finchley.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “It went off very peacefully.”
Katherine Kerswell, the council’s chief executive, meanwhile issued her weekly internal memo to staff in which she said, “The nature of the attacks that we have seen across the country and the racism and pockets of hatred are horrendous…
“What’s clear is how strong Croydon’s communities are, how much people care and how we pull together in times of need. Yes, we did have some antisocial behaviour on Wednesday evening, but thankfully it was dealt with quickly, no one was seriously injured, and our colleagues and local businesses rallied together to focus on the immediate clean-up and keeping things running.
Weakly weekly: the Croydon CEO’s regular message to staff today
“…What’s important to stress is that safety is always front and centre of our minds – for residents and staff. Whether we are in challenging times or during a typical day – there are measures we have in place to keep you safe. We will not tolerate verbal or physical abuse of any staff member – my ask is that you please do your bit as well when it comes to following safety procedures.
“It may seem trivial given the week we have had,” Kerswell wrote, very accurately, “but it is so important – especially during times of uncertainty, to follow these policies. That includes simple things like making sure you always wear your staff pass in our buildings.
“If you work in BWH [meaning Fisher’s Folly], it is making sure that you email reception to let them know when you are expecting visitors, and that we keep corporate reception as a space for staff and agreed visitors only. Just those steps alone mean that our teams on reception and security are dealing with the right things, keeping us all safe.”
So that’s alright then.
Read more: Council puts staff on standby in case of rate-hate rioting
Read more: 10 arrested in Croydon as fears of far-right rioting are allayed
Read more: Perry’s Facebook page part of Tory ‘vile cesspit’ of racism
Read more: Perry’s Facebook group hosted video by Islamophobic ‘comic’
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
Never one to miss an opportunity to show ‘solidarity’ ands boost his right-on credentials, I wish Mayor Khan would give London’s knife crime epidemic the same attention he’s summoned up to tackle ‘islamophobia and far-right racism’.
Save your wrath for the Conservatives.
They defunded the police and let crime soar, and ignored public concerns about young people being killed.
Every Tory Home Secretary since 2010 – bar Grant Shapps who held that role for a very brief time – made the same empty promises about banning knives.
Your local MP, Chris Philp. when Crime and Policing minister, promised action against “zombie knives” in 2023. The long overdue legislation will finally come into effect next month.
On sh… I’d forgotten your party affiliation. I’ll try and do better next time