Bar and restaurant owners in Brighton have been warned to take furniture off the street and limit the number of smokers allowed outside their premises during a controversial march.

The March for England on April 21 will take place from Madeira Drive to the Aquarium/Palace Pier roundabout, along Kings Road to the junction with Ship Street and back. Sussex Police are asking pubs and restaurants to consider employing door staff, particularly if they intend opening before midday.

A statement from The Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership said: “It is important to recognize the risk posed to licensed premises along the route of the march and surrounding areas. “This includes licensed premises around transport hubs such as Brighton Railway Station, which will be an arrival point for some participants in the march.”

Roland Ravenhill, from the Brighton and Hove Unite Against Fascism steering committee, said he had attended a meeting with Phelim McCafferty and members of Sussex Police to discuss the march.

He said: “We were given assurances that the marchers would be bused directly to their route and that the potential for disorder would be curtailed. Now they are telling businesses to panic. These messages are concerning.”

Superintendent Steve Whitton said: “We have maintained open discussions with the March for England organisers and it is expected that a counter protest will take place and there will be disruption. “Part of our planning has been close liaison with the Brighton business community and this has included suggestions to members of the licensing trade on how potential risks might be mitigated.

“On April 21, people in the city can expect to see a very visible presence from police.

“This will be proportionate to the information we have received about the march and counter-protest.

“As always, our priority is public safety. It is vitally important that those attending the event work with us and comply with directions or other restrictions which we will need to give to keep people safe.”

 

 

POLICE ADVICE TO BUSINESSES

 

Opening times

All identified licensed premises should give consideration to their opening time on Sunday April 21. The March for England participants will be meeting from midday but the event will be attracting people from all over the country who will probably be arriving in the morning. Consequently the recommendation from Sussex Police would be to delay opening until at least 1pm.

 

Security

Sussex Police are also asking licensed premises to give consideration to the employment of Security Industry Agency [SIA] registered door supervisors, particularly if they intend opening before midday. Similarly, it is also important to give due consideration to the use of door supervisors in the afternoon/early evening as it is likely that both groups of participants will be drinking in pubs and bars post march.

Plastics and decanting Licensed premises are being asked to use polycarbonate or plastic glasses and to decant any bottles on the day until at least early evening. Unfortunately both glass drinking vessels and bottles are potential weapons that can cause significant injury in the case of an outbreak of disorder.

 

Outside furniture

Non essential outside furniture should be removed and secured away from the front of venues because these too have the potential to be used as weapons or as part of barricades to block the route of the march and/or police response to disorder.

 

Smokers/ outside drinkers

Drinks should not be allowed outside and the number of smokers should be limited as this may also lead to 'flash points' between opposing groups.