Appendix 2
The Minute of the meeting of Scrutiny Management Board, 16
October, 2008 122/08
Saint George’s Day Parade
The Management Board received a report from the Sandwell Events
Manager on the Council’s support for the safe facilitation of a
Parade between Stone Cross and Dartmouth Park in West
Bromwich to celebrate Saint George’s Day. Direct costs of £9,500
were met by the Council to fund Health and Safety requirements to
hold a safe Parade; this represented 28% of the total cost of
£34,000 spent on the trilogy of Saint George’s Day events.
The history of the Parade, other St George’s Day events and other
events which the Events Team supported or organised were also
reported. The Events Team worked with the Parade organisers,
now constituted as Stone Cross St George’s Association, and the
Police to ensure that the Parade was managed in a safe and secure
environment.
In 2008 a ‘no alcohol’ message had been included in press releases
and advanced publicity for the Parade. In an attempt to try and
address the issue of the increasing consumption of alcohol on the
route. This had resulted in a reduction in anti-social behaviour.
Unfortunately in 2008, the Parade was infiltrated by an uninvited
band which it appeared had paramilitary roots and inspired some
objectionable chanting.
The Management Board also viewed two video clips from the
YouTube website on the internet which showed footage of the
Parade as it was about to start and of the uninvited band within the
Parade.
The Chair asked Councillor Archer to explain his involvement with
the Parade and the seemingly political statement he made as the
Parade was about to start. Councillor Archer responded that he had
been requested to lead the Parade in patriotic songs as he had
been each year since he was the Mayor in April, 2006. His
statement was made since many people had been under the
impression that the Parade would be stopped in that or future years.
Following members’ questions relating to political and racist
behaviour involved with the Parade, persons representing the
organisers and those who had attended the event responded:-
•
All of the organisations involved in staging the Parade agreed
that the event should be non-political.
•
Persons found handing out political based leaflets were asked
to leave.
•
If stewards witnessed or were advised of racist behaviour they
would bring it to the attention of the Police.
•
No Council de-brief had yet been held on the 2008 Parade.
There needed to be timely de-briefs for every event in the
Borough, which could provide a repository of information for all
organisers.
In relation to the second clip showing footage of the uninvited band,
members raised concerns as to how this had not been prevented:-
•
Most people involved with the organisation of the Event
remained at the head of the Parade and so were not aware of
what might be happening at the rear of the Parade.
The third band had not been invited and had no permit.
•
120 stewards were involved with the Parade, 70 on road
closures and 50 on the route. It was felt that the stewards
should be more evenly distributed through the length of the
parade.
•
The stewards had not been advised as to how many bands
should have been in the Parade and did not either at the time
or later report they had seen the band.
•
It was admitted that the overall management of the stewards
needed to be strengthened in the future.
•
There were 20 plus Police Officers involved with the Parade.
At the de-brief following the event no-one reported any
instances of political extremism.
•
It was unlikely that a totally “sterile” Parade could be achieved
but appropriate interventions such as training for the Police
and stewards could be put in place to try and minimise or
prevent overt political remarks.
•
Did the Cultural Services Division attempt to collect statistics
as to the number of people attending the event and their
ethnicity? - This could be done at the park as a representative
sample, but was not really feasible for the Parade.
•
The Council should aim to make all of the events it supports
inclusive and promoting cultural diversity. It was its duty to
promote good race relations.
•
If a positive video of a previous St George’s Day Parade
existed could the organisers make it available for perusal by
the Executive members of the Council?
•
Can the tenor or nature of the Parade be changed? It needed
to be the best for Sandwell people, not necessarily the biggest
in the country.
A resident who lived near to the route of the Parade reported on
what he had heard and seen at the Parade when he went to
investigate chanting emanating from the uninvited band, which was
associated with a far right organisation. There were badges,
emblems and t-shirts associated with other far right organisations,
but none of these had been identified by the Police debrief.
Resolved:-
(1) that the Management Board notes that there is clear
evidence of far-right political extremists infiltrating the
2008 St George's Day Parade in Sandwell, with no
apparent observation or record of this by any of the
stakeholders;
(2) that the Cabinet and other stakeholders be
recommended:-
(a) to examine the evidence of the events that took
place, particularly in the context of the responsibility
of all public bodies to promote good race relations
and develop community cohesion in Sandwell;
(b) to give early consideration to how, and if, political
extremism can be eliminated at any future St
George's Day events in the Borough;
(c) to give consideration to developing the St George's
Day celebrations into a static park event with the
aim of providing a family-friendly event in a safe
environment;
(d) that an analysis of the members of the public who
attend future events is undertaken by stakeholders;
(e) that intelligence is gathered on any future events by
all stakeholders in order that early de-briefings can
identify issues and concerns;
(f) that no politicians be invited to speak at any future
St George's Day events and that no political parties
be able to display banners or promotional materials;
(g) that West Midlands Police Officers undergo training
to develop an awareness of the covert signs of any
political extremism at future events.
