Three thousand riot officers have been placed on standby across England and Wales ahead of a weekend of planned protests and counter-protests targeting hotels housing asylum seekers. Police commanders authorised the deployment in what is the first nationwide mobilisation of public order officers since riots last summer.
The officers, drawn from local forces and directed by the National Police Coordination Centre, will be split between active street deployments and reserve units ready to be dispatched to potential trouble spots. Around 2,200 officers were already scheduled for duty, with a further 800 added on Friday as a precaution.
Police sources have stressed there is no specific intelligence indicating imminent violence, but at least 20 protests are expected, with each potentially attracting counter-demonstrations. As of Friday evening, 10 anti-asylum seeker protests had taken place, drawing crowds ranging from dozens to around 100 people.
Hope Not Hate, which monitors extremist activity, reported numbers including around 80 protesters in Leeds faced by about 130 anti-racism activists, while in Chestnut, approximately 100 anti-asylum demonstrators were met by 10 counter-protesters. Stand Up to Racism said it had mobilised supporters in Islington, where about 10 people attended on the other side.
Senior police officers have warned that demonstrations could include a mix of groups, from local residents to extremist factions. Forces will aim to keep rival groups apart while limiting disruption. Deployment tactics will vary by location, with some areas using fully equipped riot officers from the outset, while others will begin with standard uniformed officers and keep riot units in reserve.
The far right is expected to be involved in some protests, but attendees may also include local people concerned about unverified claims linking asylum seeker hotels to serious crime. Police say public order teams face challenges from both sides of the political spectrum during the weekend’s events.