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- Today's leader
Chief speaks out on Wellington EDL policing
Wednesday 17th August 2011, 7:30PM BST.
Police in Church Street, Wellington
The new Chief Constable of West Mercia Police has defended the policing of the English Defence League’s demonstration in Wellington in an online “web chat”.
Chief Constable David Shaw was asked whether he thought the police’s response to the demonstration was “overkill”.
He said: “Looking back now it may feel like overkill because it went so well; but I do not think in any sense that it was.
“We also had to consider the serious disorder and rioting that was occurring elsewhere in the country and the potential for some of that to spill over into Wellington. Of course, I am sorry that much of the town centre has to shut down; but I would rather be here now looking back on a very successful operation than having made the decision to have fewer resources and then seeing the town subject to real violence and disorder.”
Mr Shaw spent more than an hour answering questions via the police website.
He talked about his hopes and goals for the future including a “strategic alliance” with Warwickshire, and focusing on catching and deterring criminals causing communities harm.
In the next three years, he said, he intends to make the force “even better” at “keeping our communities safe” and “providing the leadership to the workforce”.
Click here to read the full story in the premium 24 website.
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