April 23, 2008 - By Simon Bennett

So concerned are Bradford City Council and West Yorkshire Police over the cancellation of today’s St. George’s Day pageant that they have issued a Joint Statement to “explain” their “respective positions on the issue”.

The thrust of the statement, which completely avoids the issue of “sensitive areas” – as you would expect coming from such politically correct sources – suggests that the police felt they were unable to adequately police the parade route, as it includes a number of busy roads! That’s right – West Yorkshire Police claim they would be unable to police a parade that would have seen mums, dads and kids in the low thousands – yet regularly police massive and often boisterous crowds attending premier division football matches!

The statement further claims that other, more suitable routes were suggested, but rejected by the pageant planners. All these alternative routes, presumably, avoiding the “sensitive areas” referred to in earlier media reports!

We particularly wish to draw readers attention to the Council claim that “None of the usual planning requirements were in place which enables events to take place safely” – we do so because this is precisely why the event organisers contacted the police months earlier to have resolved - why else would they have bothered to consult the police?

The craziest notion of all in the Joint Statement is the suggestion that Bradford’s St. George’s Day parade can now proceed – but on another date and – if we understand the Joint Statement correctly –along the original route!

The change of date proposal begs a rather obvious question – should the parade be given the go ahead along the original route later this year – will the flying of St. George’s flags be permitted in “sensitive areas” or will they be banned on the pretext that they are not “appropriate” as it won’t, in reality, be St. George’s Day?

Furthermore, is there any truth in the rumour that it is the parading of St. George’s flags through certain areas of the city – an act that some may regard as a provocation – the real reason for the pageant’s cancellation?

As an aside, should Bradford’s “St. George’s Day” Parade be given the go-ahead along the original route later this year as suggested in the Joint Statement, we will be particularly interested to see whether the St. George’s flags the Council claim to have ordered actually appear in the pageant!

You can read the full text of the Council/Police Joint Statement below:-

The Council has not stopped or banned any St George’s Day Parades. The Council actively supports St George’s Day Parades and offers health and safety advice and support to parade organisers across the district. The Council has to be sure that people taking part in any parade are safe, particularly because large numbers of young children are often participating in them.

When the Council was approached by the Police to support a St George’s Day Parade, ending in a celebration in Lister Park, we thought this was a really good idea and saw it as a positive event for Bradford. The Council is disappointed that the event is not now to take place.

A range of community groups, local businesses and schools were planning to take part in the parade which reflected the diversity of Bradfordians supporting peace and unity.

The concept of the parade was originally discussed by police officers from West Yorkshire Police, working with local community groups, businesses and schools. The Council gave advice precisely so that an event could take place and supported the organisers by ordering St George’s Day flags to be used in the parade.

In February, the Council’s highways department and police operational planners expressed safety concerns about the route. Part of the route involved marching along main roads, including a significant arterial road that formed part of an evacuation route to the Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The organisers had not considered the sheer numbers of school children wanting to take part in the parade, over 1,500, balanced against the safety of the group and other local road users as well as disruption to the local community.

None of the usual planning requirements were in place which enables events to take place safely, including stewarding arrangements. Also there was not an overall organising group established to make sure the parade could take place safely.

A meeting took place on March 7 between key Council officers and the Police. That meeting agreed that the parade should be supported and could proceed but with an alternative safer route being used.

The Council was advised by the Police on April 11 that it was likely that the event would not now take place. The Council and Police remained keen for an event to take place and suggested two routes of between one and two miles ending with a celebration in Lister Park which could safely accommodate a St George’s Day event.

Unfortunately the decision of community representatives present at a meeting attended by Police and Council officers was to reject these routes in preference for a parade of celebration on an alternative date when more planning will have taken place.

The Council and the Police will continue to work with the organisers to make sure the Parade is a successful, enjoyable and safe event.”

Signed by Jo Miller, deputy chief executive of Bradford Council and Superintendent Richard Whitehead, of West Yorkshire Police