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Britain First could be ‘finished’ if High Court bid to ban them from every mosque in England and Wales

Group leader Paul Golding claims they are facing a 'direct challenge to exist as a political party'

Caroline Mortimer

Wednesday 17 August 2016 15:24 BST

Paul Golding was convicted for wearing an 'intimidating' fleece during a rally in Luton in January (Britain First/YouTube)

Britain First could be “finished” as it faces an attempt to ban it from entering any mosque in England or Wales for the next three years.

The injunction, which has been requested by Bedfordshire Police, could also ban the group from entering Luton town centre or its predominately Asian neighbourhood, Bury Park, without permission.

The terms of the order, seen by The Independent, means it would also be banned from directing its activists to the area or publishing images or films showing any member of the group inside the exclusion zone.

The far-right group claims Luton is a “hotspot” for Islamic extremism.

The injunction would mean they would not be allowed to enter a mosque in England or Wales "without written permission". The application comes after Britan First was widely criticised for its "mosque invasions".

Group members have filmed themselves going into mosques to confront imams or worshippers. They have also previously handed out Bibles outside mosques.

But Britain First said the decision could spell the end of the group as they cannot afford to continue to fight legal actions.

In a video message last month the group’s leader, Paul Golding, said the group risked being “bled dry” by “endless court appearances and injunctions”.

He condemned the injunction saying: “What we are dealing with here is a direct challenge to exist as a political party. Why do I say that? It’s simple.

The case will be heard at the High Court next month (Getty)

“If Luton police can achieve an injunction against a legally registered party then what’s to stop then what’s to stop every other town obtaining similar injunctions”.

Separately, Golding and his deputy, Jayda Fransen, have faced legal trouble of their own.

Last week, Golding was fined £450 for “wearing a uniform with political objectives” after the Britain First fleece he wore during a rally in Luton in January was deemed “intimidating”.

In a separate case Fransen is facing charges of alleged religiously aggravated harassment during the rally. The case is still ongoing.

Bedfordshire Police’s Chief Constable Mike Colbourne defended the order.

He told the International Business Times: "The injunction is being sought due to concerns that their presence in these areas could increase the possibility of disorder and anti-social behaviour.

"I would like to be clear that it is not our intention to ban any demonstration and we will always facilitate peaceful protest where possible."

Britain First has claimed it is defending the country from creeping “Islamification” and has been widely criticised – and derided – for its “Christian patrols”.

Britain First controversies

Show all 8

1/8Britain First controversies

Britain First controversies

20 November 2014: Britain First claims credit for success of Ukip campaign

With the Tory defector Mark Reckless forecast to win the hotly-contested by-election in Rochester and Strood, Britain First suggested they only campaigned “to bolster the Ukip campaign”. Prior to the start of the vote some bookmakers had Nigel Farage’s party as huge 1/100 favourites to take the seat, which would make Mr Reckless their second MP at the expense of the Conservative Party. And with things going so smoothly for Ukip, the far right-wing group Britain First has tried to claim some of the credit

Britain First controversies

5 November 2014: Britain First accused of hijacking the poppy as Remembrance Day approaches to promote its own agenda

The far-right group used the symbol, which is a registered trademark of the Royal British Legion, on its website masthead and in Facebook posts driving more people to its page. It is seen alongside Britain First’s logo telling people to “take our country back” and crudely superimposed into the centre of the European Union flag with a message about “national sovereignty”. Members of opposition group Exposing Britain First believe many Facebook users are sharing poppy posts without realising who it comes from or what they stand for

Britain First controversies

28 October 2014: Britain First accuses Ukip of 'playing political game' with snub over Rochester photo

Britain First accused Ukip of “playing the political game” after Nigel Farage’s party reprimanded its campaigners for posing for a picture with members of the far-right group. A spokesperson for Ukip said the picture, taken while both parties were campaigning for the Rochester by-election on Saturday, was a “mistake” would “not happen again”

Britain First controversies

25 October 2014: Britain First starts 'direct action' on Mail and Sun journalists over Lynda Bellingham post

Britain First encouraged its followers to boycott the Daily Mail and The Sun after it was accused of using actress Lynda Bellingham's death to boost support. The party has threatened to launch "direct action" on the journalists after they said that the group used the cancer victim's death as a way to gain more attention on social media. Britain First posted a photograph to their Facebook subscribers of Mrs Bellingham with co-star Christopher Timothy, above the caption: "RIP actress Lynda Bellingham. Britain First", which garnered more than 6,000 'likes' and 500 shares

Britain First controversies

28 July 2014: Britain First founder Jim Dowson quits over mosque invasions and 'racists and extremists'

The founder of Britain First resigned from the far-right group over its “provocative and counterproductive” mosque invasions. James “Jim” Dowson, a former British National Party (BNP) member and anti-abortion campaigner, announced his departure on 27 July 2014. While Britain First blamed “media pressure” and family issues for the decision and said he would be missed “enormously” in a saccharine post, Mr Dowson publicly shamed the group’s tactics as “unacceptable and unchristian”

Britain First/Facebook

Britain First controversies

15 July 2014: Britain First 'battalion' invades mosque demanding removal of 'sexist' entrance signs

A self-styled battalion of the far-right group Britain First “invaded” a mosque in south London. The stated aim of the altercation was to “demand the removal of sexist signs” outside the Crayford Mosque. The signs designate separate entrances for men and women, so they can enter for segregated worship as is the custom in most mosques. Men and women also sit apart in Orthodox Jewish synagogues and some Sikh gurdwaras. A film of the encounter was posted on Facebook, set to dramatic drumming music and ending with the slogan: "Britain First Defence Force. No fear. No retreat. No surrender."

Britain First/Facebook

Britain First controversies

27 June 2014: Britain First's Facebook page taken down for 'hate speech'

Britain First’s Facebook page was taken down for hate speech – only to be restored again an hour later. Facebook claimed the extremist group’s page was taken down by mistake but a screenshot posted by anti-fascist campaigners Hope Not Hate seemed to show the social media site had removed Britain First in response to a complaint. With almost 500,000 “likes” Britain First’s page has a following that far outstrips the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats, arguably making it the UK's biggest political site

Britain First controversies

27 April 2014: Inquiry over far-right Britain First party's use of Lee Rigby slogan on voting slip

The election watchdog faced an inquiry over its decision to allow a far-right party to use a slogan referencing the murdered soldier Lee Rigby. The Electoral Commission apologised for allowing Britain First to use the description “Remember Lee Rigby” on voting slips for next month’s European elections but Jenny Watson, the chair of the commission, said on Sunday that “an immediate and full independent investigation” would follow to “prevent this from ever happening again”

PA

A “hapless” protest organised outside the East London Mosque in Whitechapel was caught on camera in March.

Fransen and two others were the only people to show up while spectators quietly laughed at them.

They have also been criticised for their attempts to align their cause to the armed forces.

A photo taken with two young Sea Cadets in Nottingham was removed from Facebook in November last year after one of the girls’ mothers and the organisation complained.

They have also been attacked by the family of Lee Rigby, the soldier killed by Islamist terrorists in Woolwich in 2013, for using their son’s image without their consent on multiple occasions.