Outrage as Met Police agrees to block roads for Pakistan Independence Day after enforcing killjoy Euro 2024 orders

A closure will impact Ilford Lane from Britannia Road and Winston Way and between Luke’s Avenue from 5pm tonight to 1am this morning.

Ealing will see “numerous road closures that will affect residents in Southall Broaday” from 6pm to midnight today, tomorrow and on Saturday.

The force also stressed officers from the “West Area will be providing community reassurance”.

Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe pointed out how the Metropolitan Police took a rather different approach ahead of England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in the 2024 European Championship Final.

Lowe shared a police statement advising fans that an anti-social behaviour dispersal order is in place in Westminster until 2am on July 15”.

The update added: “Crowds of people gathering and drinking in central London streets could be in breach of this order.”

Social media users voiced concern about what the response said about so-called two-tier policing.

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One said: "Yet Football Fans were not allowed. HOW DARE YOU. Two-tier policing, Two-tier Britain.”

Steve Chilcott, who received 2,585 votes for Reform UK to finish sixth in Ealing Southall at the general election last month, added: “Is it really necessary for the entire Broadway to be closed for 6 hours from 6pm each of the three nights?”

Another wrote: “Did they consult with all community leaders or just a select few?”

However, other people raised questions for Lowe.

One said: “A reminder England football fans are famous the whole world over for their violent behaviour even amongst themselves.”

Another asked: “What’s your point, Rupert?”

A third chimed: “Community reassurance is a unique programme that reduces police call-outs through working with the community, acting upon referrals made directly by the police and local authority’s community safety team.”

However, many areas of London have marked Pakistan’s Independence Day for years.

Residents across Newham gathered on Green Street in 2013 to mark the moment.

Celebrations usually include cars cruising, singing the national anthem, setting off fireworks, dancing and waving flags.

Road closures are a common occurence during celebrations, with Southwall Broadway closing all traffic on Uxbridge Road in 2022.

Redbridge and Ealing contain Asian communities well-above the 9.3 per cent average in England and Wales.

Almost half of Redbridge residents - 47.3 per cent - identified as Asian or Asian British, with the figure in Ealing standing at 30.3 per cent.

The Muslim population of Redbrige and Ealing is also much higher than the national average, hitting 31.3 per cent and 18.8 per cent respectively.