15 held after BNP 'family' weekend

Police arrested 15 campaigners yesterday during protests by the British National Party and the Anti-Nazi League. Officers picked up protesters for offences ranging from obstruction to drug possession at rallies in mid-Wales.

Despite the arrests, the rally, which was billed as "family affair" by the party's leader, Nick Griffin, ended peacefully.

Police would not say whether the arrests had been made at Mr Griffin's jamboree, in his home town of Llanerfyl, or at nearby Welshpool, where about 150 Anti-Nazi League members had gathered.

Mr Griffin said a third of the 150 tickets sold at his event, which boasted bouncy castles, had been "family tickets", and that the rally included seminars and debates. But despite the family atmosphere, copies of the organisation's openly racist magazine, advocating segregation and repatriation of black people, were freely available.

Police were powerless under the Human Rights Act to prevent the BNP rally from going ahead because it was being held on private farmland, next to land owned by Mr Griffin.

The Anti-Nazi League voiced anger that the gathering had been permitted and threatened to conduct a protest. But it was kept in check by police determined to prevent any attacks in revenge for people affected by the recent race riots.

Chief Constable of Dfyed-Powys police, Terence Grange, said the force had been informed that protesters from Oldham, Blackburn and other towns hit by race riots would be arriving. To stave off a clash, the anti-Nazi campaigners were told to stay away from Llanerfyl, and had to protest 12 miles away in Welshpool, Powys.

Other marches in the country were banned by the Home Secretary, David Blunkett.