TRADE unionists accused police yesterday of being “hell-bent” on harassing peaceful protesters opposing a demonstration by the racist English Defence League (EDL).

Waltham Forest Trades Council is questioning the huge cost to taxpayers of a mass police mobilisation to shepherd EDL demonstrators — while police stations are being closed and police services axed in their community through government cuts.

The trades council has written to the Metropolitan Police complaining about the extent of policing, its cost and actions against anti-racists during the EDL march in the north-east London borough on May 9.

The provocative demonstration was the latest of dozens around the country over the last six years which together have cost taxpayers tens of millions of pounds.

Trades council secretary Linda Taaffe and president Dave Knight quizzed the Metropolitan Police on how they could afford to mobilise hundreds of officers on foot and horseback and with dogs and helicopters to protect the EDL.

“This over-the-top mobilisation contrasts sharply with the woeful response ordinary citizens receive when we report a real crime in this borough,” they wrote.

The trades council officials also wondered why counter-demonstrators were treated “as if we were all potential criminals” while police ignored the “racist incitement of the EDL” which had “invaded” the borough.

“These officers seemed hell-bent on harassing local peaceful protesters,” the pair wrote.

“They used cameras and written warnings against those who simply wanted to stand on the pavement and shout against these ‘invaders’ on our streets.

“A number of people were unjustly arrested for the simple reason that they wanted to walk the highway in their own neighbourhood.

“On the other hand, EDL marchers were heard shouting racist abuse at an Asian family without being arrested for incitement.”

The trades council also wondered how police could justify the huge cost, believed to be around £300,000, “to protect the sort of outfit that is both tiny and virulently racist” when there have been huge cuts to both local authority services and to police budgets.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said the force had no response because it hadn’t received the letter yet.