From Sussex Police:
March for England has held an event in Brighton, consisting of a march and assembly for the last seven years.
This year, the group has announced their intention to hold this event in Brighton on Sunday 27 April. As well as the march, a counter-protest is anticipated to take place.
The route of the march is considered by the partnership as a suitable location to manage the current risks involved. It will be along the coast road between the Aquarium roundabout and West Street.
This location was selected because it provides a suitable environment where people can exercise their legal right to protest.
A number of different options were considered, including large public spaces within the city, but these would be very difficult to effectively police and ensure public safety without significantly increasing the number of police officers required to prevent crime and disorder.
It is highly likely that some disruption will take place in the area of the march and we are committed to working with partners, residents and businesses to minimise disruption wherever possible.
The latest information is available on the following websites www.sussex.police.uk/protest or www.safeinthecity.info/
The Sussex Police website will be updated with live time information on the day of the march.
If you would like to have a discussion in advance of the march and counter protest, please make contact with either
Inspector Gareth Davies: gareth.davies@sussex.pnn.police.uk or communitysafety.casework@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Safe in the city
Brighton & Hove Community Safety Partnership
Brighton & Hove is a city which celebrates diversity and freedom of expression. Peaceful protest is a fundamental element of a democratic society and every year people take part in marches, protests and assemblies in the city to exercise this important right.
Public bodies such as Sussex Police and Brighton & Hove City Council have a positive duty under the Human Rights Act to facilitate peaceful protest.
Can marches be banned?
It is a challenge to balance the rights of both groups to exercise their right to protest in a safe environment. The extreme option of seeking a banning order through the Home Secretary can only be taken when serious disorder cannot be prevented with the resources and legislation available to the police.
- Serious disorder means an escalation to widespread violent behaviour.
- A banning order only applies to a procession; no powers exist to preventan assembly.
- Banning orders apply for a period of up to three months to all events within a locality, they are a severe measure in relation to breaching people’s human rights.
Southdown Rise Residents Association 