Police vans nearly outnumber protesters

THREE police vans were on standby at a protest against UKIP on Tuesday evening but there was no cause for alarm – as only a handful of protesters turned up.
Protestors outside the UKIP public meeting, at the Charmandean Centre SUS-140104-104530001Protestors outside the UKIP public meeting, at the Charmandean Centre SUS-140104-104530001
Protestors outside the UKIP public meeting, at the Charmandean Centre SUS-140104-104530001

Half a dozen members of campaign group Worthing Against UKIP turned up to the Charmandean Centre, in Forest Road, Worthing, to peacefully hand out leaflets.

UKIP members were assembling for a public meeting, featuring talks from European Parliament candidates.

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Anti-UKIP campaigner Michael Edwards, 20, said the purpose of the protest was to try to persuade the public not to vote for the party in the forthcoming May elections.

Police presence at UKIP protest at Charmandean Centre SUS-140104-104520001Police presence at UKIP protest at Charmandean Centre SUS-140104-104520001
Police presence at UKIP protest at Charmandean Centre SUS-140104-104520001

He said: “I believe the majority of UKIP is against gay marriage and that is not on.

“They are suppressing my rights.”

He added: “We are trying to stop people voting for UKIP. They are not the right way to go and we are here to explain to the public why they should not vote for them.”

Police at the scene said they had to plan for every eventuality with any protest, even if only a small number of protesters were expected.

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But those who attended the protest were good-spirited, even handing out leaflets to UKIP members as they entered the building.

Mr Edwards said: “We had about 14 say they would turn up on Facebook.

“It is a residential area so we didn’t ever plan to have too many come.”

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