Police have made an internet video appeal to protesters to tell them about their plans for a demonstration at an arms factory.

Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett has asked Smash EDO to tell Sussex Police what is likely to happen when activists mass outside the EDO factory in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, on Wednesday.

The campaign group has said it wants to “lay siege” to the factory, which it claims makes parts for weapons used by Israel’s army in |illegal military action in Gaza.

Speaking in a video posted on internet video site YouTube, Ch Supt Bartlett said: “We are keen to speak with the organisers of the protest to discuss their intentions and help facilitate their right to free speech, as we do with all groups who protest in the city.

“We have tried regularly to engage with organisers of this event but, unlike other groups and in line with their previous events, they have not been in contact.

“As a result, exact plans remain unknown. However, we are planning thoroughly for a number of scenarios so as to enable the protest to go ahead and for people to continue with other lawful activities.”

Smash EDO has described Wednesday’s demonstration as a “final push to remove the factory from Brighton”.

In July, a court acquitted eight Smash EDO activists of conspiracy to cause criminal damage after they broke into the factory and caused £187,000 damage.

The activists’ defence was that they believed they were preventing a greater crime by “decommissioning” the factory.

A spokesman for the group said yesterday it did not intend to respond to Ch Supt Bartlett’s request.

He said: “We do not think our dissent would be worth anything if we had to ask police permission to express it.”

The protest is due to start at Wild Park Café in Wild Park at 10am.