Police patrols stepped up for Lee Anderson
EXTRA PROTECTION AFTER COMMENTS GOT HIM AXED
POLICE patrols are being carried out around Lee Anderson’s constituency office.
They come after the Ashfield MP made comments about Sadiq Khan which have been dubbed “unacceptable” by the Prime Minister.
Mr Anderson, now an independent after being suspended from the Conservative Party, has his constituency office on Outram Street in Sutton.
An email from the neighbourhood policing team in Sutton confirmed that extra patrols are being carried out around the office following Mr Anderson’s comments on GB News.
The email, sent to senior Ashfield District Council councillors and officers said: “Just to make you aware in case you have not seen it in the news that Lee Anderson has been suspended from the Conservative Party due to his comments that he made in relation to the London Mayor Sadiq Khan, which have been deemed to be islamophobic by the Chief Whip, who has firstly requested an apology but when this has not been forthcoming he has been suspended.
“A community impact assessment has been commenced by Inspector Boylin. My team will be conducting patrols around Mr Anderson’s office. If you become aware of any issues please let myself or Inspector Boylin know.”
According to guidance from the Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, a community impact assessment is “an assessment that is used by a police force to identify how an issue or incident has affected or will affect a community. It helps forces to learn lessons for the future and develop long-term plans to (re)build community confidence”.
Councillor Helen-ann Smith, deputy leader of the district council, said: “This is absolutely ludicrous. Residents cannot even get Nottinghamshire Police to respond to emergency calls yet they have increased patrols at Lee Anderson’s office.”
Mr Anderson was suspended by the Conservative Party, of which he was previously deputy chairman, after saying: “I don’t actually believe that the Islamists have got control of our country, but what I do believe is they’ve got control of Khan and they’ve got control of London… He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”
Rishi Sunak has now described Mr Anderson’s comments as “wrong” and “unacceptable”, saying his priority was to “take the heat out of this situation.”
Mr Anderson said he “understood the difficult position” in which he had put the PM and he would “continue to support the Government’s efforts to call out extremism in all its forms – be that antisemitism or islamophobia”
News of patrols outside the MP’S office come amid heightened awareness about the safety of MPS. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said the way he controversially managed a Gaza debate was to ensure MPS’ safety, and three female MPS have now been given bodyguards and chauffer-driven cars due to safety concerns.