Three people were arrested on Saturday as Britain First supporters and counter-protesters faced off in Manchester city centre.
Two of those arrested were counter-protesters and one was not known to be part of either group, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
A male counter-protester was arrested for ‘failing to provide details after requesting they removed their face covering,’ while another was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
The third arrest was of a woman on suspicion of breaching the peace – it is unknown if she was connected to either 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 were no reports of injuries to any members of the public.
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 was in place for the city centre until 8pm on Saturday, while a Section 60 order gave officers enhanced stop and search powers and allowed for the removal of face coverings.
The force said there would be a ‘significantly increased police presence’ across the city centre.
It had said it expected ‘up to around as thousand protestors and a thousand counter-protesters to be present’ but that the main event’s organisers had engaged with police and agreed a route.
Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: ‘We had extra officers on duty to support people’s right to protest peacefully while reducing the impact on the wider public.
‘Thanks to the efforts of our officers on the ground and the planning done with our partners, hundreds of people from a range of groups were able to come together safely, with no significant issues reported.’
