A massive influx of anti-migration protesters are expected this weekend in England and Wales that riot officers were deployed in advance. Others were placed on standby amid concerns a string that the string of protest could lead to violence and disorder.
Police commanders at a national level have made the decision. It is the first time since last summer’s riots that there has been a mass and national standing up of specialist public order officers.
A police source with knowledge of the planning for this weekend said was no specific intelligence of violence, but 800 extra riot officers were ordered to be made ready on 8 August, on top of the 2,200 planned already.
At least 20 protests targeting hotels used by the government to house asylum seekers are thought possible this weekend, with each one in turn potentially attracting a counter-protest.
As of 8:00 P.M. on Friday, 10 protests against asylum seekers had attracted numbers ranging from the dozens to about 100, according to Hope Not Hate, which monitors extremist groups.
In Chestnut, about 100 protesters against asylum seekers faced 10 anti-racism activists with handmade signs. The group said it had a major mobilisation in Islington, facing about 10 on the other side.
One senior officer in an area expecting a protest said: "It is impossible to tell what you are going to get. Within crowds you can get different factions, concerned locals, bystanders, extremists."
Officers will need to keep both sides apart as well as ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
The 3,000 riot officers have been requested from local forces and will be directed by the National Police Coordination Centre.
Local commanders will make decisions about specific deployments. In some areas public order officers may deploy in full riot gear from the start to act as a deterrent. Other forces will prefer to have officers in regular uniforms, so called "soft hats", to start with, with fully kitted riot officers in reserve and close by if trouble erupts.
The far right is involved in some, if not most, of the protests but those attending are expected to include local people concerned by claims linking asylum seeker hotels to serious crime.
Police public order resources this weekend face a pincer movement from right and left.
The Metropolitan police is calling in support from other forces as it faces three days of substantial public order challenges, including an anti-migrant protest in Islington, north London, on Friday night, with more are expected at another in Canary Wharf on Sunday.
In London, small groups of protesters started to gather from about 5:00 P.M. on Friday across the road from the Britannia International hotel in Canary Wharf. Riot police scrambled to keep groups of masked men who broke away from the anti-asylum seeker protest from reaching a separate group of anti-racism activists who had attempted to walk down to the hotel.
About 200 anti-migrant protesters – including men waving St George’s flags and an Israeli flag – had gathered across the road from the hotel, with some hurling abuse at a Stand Up to Racism protest of about 100 activists, trade unionists and others.
Police kept a distance but vans with public order officers were also stationed in streets nearby. Two people were arrested.