The first arrests have been made as Britain First followers and counter-protesters face off at a Manchester city centre demonstration.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed a total of three arrests were made across the day, two of which were counter-protesters and another unknown to be part of either group.
One arrest was of a male counter-protester over ‘failing to provide details after requesting they removed their face covering,’ while another male counter-protester was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
The third arrest was of a woman on suspicion of breaching the peace, however, it is unknown if she was connected to any protest group.
Around 1,000 Britain First supporters gathered on Store Street underneath Manchester Piccadilly station from noon, before marching to St Peter’s Square at 1.15pm ahead of a rally.
A counter-protest – by a coalition of anti-racism groups known as Resist Britain First – was held in Piccadilly Gardens by officers before moving to St Peter’s Square.
GMP has confirmed counter-protesters attempted to break police lines and tried to throw punches, with officers deploying PAVA spray as a tactic.
It also said a breakaway group from the protest went down the side of Manchester Town Hall, where officers were met with ‘resistance’ while moving them away from a nearby counter-group.
There are no reports of any members of the public being injured.
Hundreds of officers were on hand for the protest after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were accused of ‘losing control’ when violence ensued at a previous Britain First ‘march for remigration’ in February.
Police arrested 11 people after a clash broke out between protesters and counter-demonstrators Stand Up To Racism.
Arrests were made in relation to public order, breach of peace, assault on an emergency worker, assault and breach of a dispersal notice.
GMP has since been given extra powers to manage potential trouble-makers during Saturday’s demonstration.
A Section 34 dispersal order is in place for the city centre, while a Section 60 order gives officers enhanced stop and search powers and allows for the removal of face coverings.
A statement released by GMP confirmed there would be a ‘significantly increased police presence’ across the city centre.
It said it expected ‘up to around as thousand protestors and a thousand counter-protesters to be present,’ but that organisers of the main event had engaged with police and a route had been agreed.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: ‘The public should expect to see a large police presence in the city centre on Saturday as part of our policing operation focused on keeping people safe and minimising the wider impact during the planned protest and counterprotests.
‘Disruption should be expected but we are working with partners in the city centre to mitigate this.
‘We’ll have significant resources in place to facilitate protest and to ensure our local communities, businesses and visitors to Manchester can go about their day safely and with as minimal impact as possible.
‘Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their right to protest can do so safely, while intervening when behaviour crossing the line into criminality.’
