Far-right nationalists hold Clapton rally against Jewish patrol group Shomrim

Police escorting the group in Upper Clapton. Photograph: Dean Ryan

A group of 28 far-right nationalists held a demonstration in Hackney on Saturday against Jewish safety patrol group Shomrim.

Holding banners reading ‘police impersonation is a crime’ and surrounded by a large police escort, the group of 30 gathered at Lea Bridge Roundabout at 2pm.

The group comprised of members from a number of far-right and fascist groups such as the National Front, the political party New Dawn and members of the neo-fascist Polish party the National Rebirth of Poland (NOP).

Speeches were made by the National Front’s Tony Martin and the party’s former organiser Martin Webster.

A sign tied to the tree in Upper Clapton. Photograph: Dave Hill

They were met by a group of around 80 protesters from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) who loudly heckled the group. Tash Shifrin, 42, a local resident and member of Hackney UAF, said she was “angry” the police let the demonstration go ahead.

Shifrin said: “We are very angry that the police facilitated this. This is a hardcore Nazi group. Their demonstration was mobilised on Hitler-supporting, White Power message boards, it is very serious. For the police to facilitate 28 people bringing a message of racial hatred to our borough, it’s appalling.”

“This was a specifically anti-Semitic protest targeting the Jewish community of Stamford Hill. We don’t need that kind of thing in Hackney at all. We have a right to live in our borough without having people inciting racial hatred and racial violence. Local people showed the Nazis they were not welcome.”

Members of Unite Against Fascism and local residents at Saturday’s demonstration. Photograph @miketwalker

Community leader and co-chair of the Muslim Jewish forum Rabbi Gluck described the protest as “something from a comedy skit”.

“The whole thing was a total waste of time,” he said. “I feel bad for them that they wasted a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon doing something totally useless. But I think that is pretty indicative of fascism.

“I mean, only Mr Bean would hold a demonstration on Clapton roundabout,” he added.

When asked if the police should have stopped the demonstration, Rabbi Gluck said: “They had no choice. We live, thank God, in a country where people can speak freely.”

Rabbi Herschel Gluck, pictured at Madina Mosque earlier this year. Photograph: Ella Jessel

Shomrim (Hebrew for guards) are neighbourhood patrol groups, set up in Hasidic and Haredi neighbourhoods and run by volunteers which assist the London Metropolitan Police in reducing crime.

Hackney MPS tweeted:

Around 30 protestors (and small counter-protest) at Lea Bridge roundabout this afternoon. Now concluded without serious incident.

— Hackney MPS (@MPSHackney) April 18, 2015

A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said they had no further comment.