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Police in southern England have banned face coverings at an anti-immigration rally as well as in a counter-protest planned in Portsmouth on Saturday, amid concerns over potential unrest.
The demonstration, organised by protesters calling themselves “patriots”, is expected to begin at around noon.
Hampshire Police, which has responsibility for Portsmouth, said the mask ban was to “reduce opportunities for violence, intimidation and criminality”.
It said the move followed “recent incidents of violence and intimidation by a minority of those who have been intent on disrupting peaceful protest”.
A separate order will allow police to require people to remove masks or other items covering their identity.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo, quoted by the BBC, said: “It is important to stress that this power will apply to any groups that attend the protest and will be enforced equally and impartially.
“Let me be clear, these powers are not being implemented to prevent protest, but they are being used to help prevent crime and disorder, while making communities feel safer.”
The demonstrations come less than a week after clashes between protesters and police in Portsmouth. Masked protesters attempted to prevent a group of asylum seekers who had crossed the English Channel in a small boat from leaving the area.
Police said official vehicles were damaged and several officers were injured during the unrest, which the government condemned as “thuggish”.
A day earlier, hundreds of masked protesters gathered in Dover and briefly blocked access to the Channel port during a demonstration against migrant crossings.
The unrest in Portsmouth and Dover was condemned by political leaders.
Police were given powers last year to ban face coverings used to conceal identities at protests.
Additional sources • AFP
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