All Harrow residents must be horrified to learn about the proposal to hold another anti-mosque demonstration in Harrow on December 13.

Those of us, like myself, who were present at the last one will know of the potential for such a demonstration to lead to serious violence and damage, let alone totally disrupting traffic and preventing residents going about their lawful business.

Once again a similar demonstration in Manchester led to serious violence, the use of police horses and nearly 50 arrests. In addition there is an enormous cost to the police and councils involved. It seems to me unacceptable that a few unrepresentative individuals should be allowed to pick places almost at random to organise what are essentially pitched battles. We do not want this again in Harrow or indeed anywhere in the country.

With this in mind I have written to the Home Secretary and have approached our MPs, the Brent and Harrow Assembly Member, the borough commander and the council’s chief executive requesting they jointly seek an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary to see if there is any action which can be taken to prevent any further deliberate outbreaks of public disorder. Enough is enough.

Councillor Bill Stephenson, Labour group leader, Harrow Council