Thetford Town Council reveals reason for private security

The acting clerk at Thetford Town Council has revealed that he was forced to recruit the guards due to a string of incidents involving protestors who had "not respected the meeting space".

The group, known as Thetford Council Watch, say they are holding authority to account in the name of "freedom and common sense" and go to the meetings to express their views and scrutinise councillors.

It was previously understood that the security team was recruited in the wake of a meeting attended by the group in April, which fell into disorder as members refused to be silenced and resulted in the clerk making a call to the police. 

However, it has since emerged that the need for security dates back to February, when a heated row erupted after Thetford Council Watch were told they could not film proceedings.

The meeting was suspended and councillors left the room - to jeers from the group - but their seats were quickly taken up by Thetford Council Watch, who offered to take questions on behalf of the actual council. 

One member addressed the public audience and said: "We're not getting anything from our public representatives, so if anyone has got any questions we will take them.

"We're not here to cause trouble, we're here to work for the public."

Members of Thetford Council Watch take over the meeting (Image: LSB Film Productions)

WHO ARE THETFORD COUNCIL WATCH?

The group, previously known as the Thetford Sovereign Council and before that the Thomas Paine Independents - after the town's most famous son whose writings influenced the American Revolution and the Enlightenment - say they are holding authority to account in the name of "freedom and common sense".

The campaign group, some of whose members previously sat as councillors, regularly raise topics such as sex education in schools, climate change and the use of vaccines. 

The meeting in February saw councillors exit the room after protestors refused to stop filming the session when asked by Stuart Wright, the mayor. 

Mr Wright said: "My understanding is that the public forum is not part of the public meeting, and this council has made a decision that they do not wish this public forum to be filmed.

"I will suspend the meeting if you're not going to adhere to the decision."

This was met with outrage from Thetford Council Watch, with members shouting that councillors were "breaking the law" and demanding "what is the reason?"

Following the suspension of the meeting and exit of the council, members of the group moved to sit in the councillors' seats and attempted to resume the session.

One member said: "All we want to do now is open up the meeting for the public and address the matters on the agenda."

Police officers arrived at the scene shortly after councillors left, but no further action was taken. 

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Police officers confront members of Thetford Council Watch (Image: LSB Film Productions)

WHY HAS SECURITY BEEN HIRED?

Alan Yorke, the acting clerk at the council, hired the guards after making a second 999 call at a meeting in April, which fell into disorder after Thetford Council Watch expressed their fury at the authority's recent decision to declare a "climate emergency" and commit £30,000 to spend tackling it.

Members went on to ask councillors what they thought of "bedroom-department activities" being taught in schools, and children being exposed to "granddads in bondage gear for nought to four year olds" in bookshops and libraries.

This is thought to have been a reference to a book called Grandad's Pride, which was withdrawn by a Hull nursery school after parents complained about its portrayal of men in "leather fetish gear".

Despite the call, police officers did not attend the meeting - citing operational reasons. 

The following session in May was watched over by two security guards - who will appear at every full council session for the "foreseeable future" at a rate of £180 per attendance. 

A security guard watches over a meeting of Thetford Town Council (Image: LSB Film Productions)

Mr Yorke said he had hired the team after consulting with external organisations, including Norfolk Police, who recommended that the council employ security. 

He added: "Some members of the public have not respected the meeting space and have moved from the area designated for the public into the area where the councillors are seated together with staff members. This is intimidating behaviour and raises safety concerns for councillors and staff.

"There have been two occasions where the police have been called to our full council meetings to help restore order. The reason is that some members of the public have shouted over the mayor, have continued speaking after the public participation session has ended and consequently have prevented the meeting taking place in an orderly manner."