Nuneaton MP Marcus Jones has asked the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to learn from football banning orders to help stamp out the minority of violent protestors who plagued London last week.

In an oral question to the Home Secretary in the House of Commons, Marcus asked if the Government would investigate the possibility of introducing a system akin to football banning orders to keep the minority of violent protestors off the streets when demonstrations take place. Reassuringly, the Home Secretary agreed to investigate it and also stated that the Government had asked the police if any further powers were needed.

In Nuneaton, local protests organised by the English Defence League have caused concern amongst residents. Marcus believes that the use of banning orders may help the police to better deal with protests in Nuneaton that threaten to turn violent.

Commenting on his question, Marcus said: “The scenes of unnecessary violence in London by a small minority of the protestors was shocking. I believe the Government can learn lessons from how the country dealt with and, to a very large extent, overcame football hooliganism in better policing and managing protestors who set out with the sole intention of causing trouble and damaging public and private property.

“I am pleased that the Home Secretary has agreed to look at the issue of banning orders and that the Government is already speaking to the police about any additional powers they may need to help keep order. This is particularly relevant for Nuneaton following the EDL protests in the town and I know from the number of people who contacted me about those protests that they caused a great deal of concern.”