As predicted, a statement released yesterday by South Wales Police claimed that officers are to pursue "further lines of inquiry" after getting CPS advice on what charges would be appropriate for BNP Assembly candidate Sion Owens.
Owens was arrested after his alleged burning of a Koran which was reportedly filmed by Joanne Shannon, another BNP candidate, and who also nicked. The case against Owens was dropped earlier this week after magistrates had been told that the wrong charges had been brought.
According to the Beeb, police stated they were "continuing to investigate the incident" and were "consulting with the CPS while this work is ongoing". They added that the work would "take some time to complete".
Community groups and local politicians are said to be unimpressed by the way that the police have mishandled the incident. A number of onlookers, including those within the force, feel that senior officers involved in the case were more concerned in being seen to react swiftly to information provided by the Observer newspaper rather than ensuring due process & procedures were followed.
The fear voiced by someone in the local judiciary is that unless brand new charges are brought, elements of the existing case are sufficiently screwed up to the extent up that Owens could get away with little more than a caution.
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