EDL police candidate unaffected by arrest

Kevin Carroll, the British Freedom candidate for Beds Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), was arrested on Saturday and has been bailed until November 30.

Mr Carroll is a senior member of the EDL, and it was initially thought he was among the 53 EDL members arrested on their way to east London on suspicion of conspiring to cause a public nuisance on Saturday.

A Brtish Freedom Party statement on their website said: “In contradiction to earlier reports, we can confirm that Kevin was not among EDL supporters stopped by police on the M1, but was arrested later whilst driving to his home. The police have no evidence against Kevin Carroll because he has committed no crime; their action appears to be a clumsy effort to discredit him in the run-up to the PCC election on November 15.”

Mr Carroll is one of four candidates for the newly-created commissioner role.

The PCC will replace Bedfordshire Police Authority, and will scrutinise policing across the county.

Their powers will include being able to appoint and dismiss the chief constables setting out a five-year police and crime plan after their election, and publishing an annual report.