Housing Minister Jim McMahon insists police are aware of the venues being targeted by far-right groups, and that there is 'no need whatsoever' for counter protests to support communities. Report by Alibhaiz. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00We are aware of the venues that are being circulated, the police have intelligence,
00:03they're working at a local level to make sure that the policing response is appropriate and robust,
00:08but also that at a local level communities are supported through what we recognise is a very
00:13anxious time right across the country. Now we do hope though, that notwithstanding the list has
00:19been circulated, that the charging decisions that have been made, where there have been arrests,
00:24where people have been charged, where people are being taken through the court system,
00:27where people ultimately will face a criminal charge at the end, that people will see that and
00:33say, hold back, it is not worth the impact that's going to have because there'll be nowhere to hide
00:39on this. We cannot allow streets and communities to be turned into battlegrounds in the way that
00:44they have, because people in this country work hard and they want to live in a decent,
00:48safe and secure community in return. We absolutely understand the anxiety that
00:53many communities face, but there is no need whatsoever for any counter-protest to come
00:58armed onto the streets as a way of trying to give the community the support that they believe is
01:03needed. It's not necessary and if that overspills into violence and intimidation in itself,
01:08then that will be dealt with as robustly as any other violent act. We do not discriminate when
01:13it comes to the weight of the law being applied to make sure that everybody can walk the streets
01:18in safety.