An alert to the community from Chief Inspector Finlayson, Lichfield Policing Team

Staffordshire Police is aware of a protest planned for Saturday 26th April, including an advertised march starting from Main Street. We want to offer some reassurance to the community, as we fully appreciate that many may be feeling concerned.

We are aware of speculation circulating locally suggesting that thousands of protesters may attend. While we don’t have a confirmed number at this stage, we do not expect attendance to be anywhere near that scale. At present, we anticipate the event will be peaceful, though potentially disruptive for a short period of time.

We completely understand the tension that ongoing protests are causing within the community, and we want to reassure you that we are working hard to reduce the impact on local life and we are looking at the cumulative effect in our legal considerations. This is not without its challenges, as we also have a duty to uphold the right to peaceful protest — a balance we are continually reviewing. 

Looking ahead to Saturday the 26th April, we currently have specially trained Protest Liaison Officers engaging with the groups involved. Their role is to help us understand the protesters’ intentions and allowing us to look at how we can minimise disruption to residents and businesses whilst supporting their right to protest.

On the day, you will see officers deployed across the village and local area to ensure public safety, respond to any criminality, and provide a visible presence to reassure the wider community. If necessary, we will consider using powers under the Public Order Act to help manage the situation in a way that protects both the right to protest and the rights of the community. At present, the legal threshold to impose such conditions has not been met — but we are closely monitoring the situation and will respond appropriately if circumstances change.

Our aim is always to support people’s legal right to protest, while doing everything we can to minimise disruption and protect the rights of those who live and work in the area as we recognise the real impact ongoing protests can have on local people, businesses, and access to everyday services.

We genuinely appreciate your concerns and want you to know they’re being taken seriously. We’ll continue to work closely with local partners, community representatives and your local Policing Team will also be in the Village before, during, and after the event to keep communication open and ensure everyone is kept informed. Smart Alerts will support this on the day.

Posted by PCSO 25049 Andrea Horsnall