Police in Scotland will be ready to respond to any emergencies during an “unprecedented set of circumstances” after Brexit, a senior officer has said, with hundreds of officers ready to step in should protests or logistical issues arise.

Assistant chief constable Steve Johnson, Police Scotland’s EU exit tactical commander, said the force would be prepared to handle a range of potential challenges presented within the coming months.

It included having 360 officers on standby to cover unforeseen eventualities.

Johnson, who met the Scottish justice secretary, Humza Yousaf, said preparations would extend to any delays at ports, as well as possible political protests.

“Our number one priority is protecting the people of Scotland and we have been preparing for the operational impact of Britain’s exit from the European Union for many months now,” he said.

“We have detailed plans in place to address all the potential challenges, including a no-deal Brexit, which could lead to delays at borders and ports and to political protest.

“Part of our planning has ensured that we have sufficient officer availability during critical periods. The Brexit Coordination Centre allows us to work closely with all relevant multi-agency partners to address any civil contingency matters which may arise.

“Working with these partners, we are ready to respond to emergencies to ensure the safety of the public during an unprecedented set of circumstances which will challenge policing in the months ahead.”

Police leaders across the UK have already made contingency plans in case of a no-deal Brexit. In January the Guardian reported that almost 1,000 officers from England and Scotland would be trained for deployment in Northern Ireland to help deal with any trouble that arises from a hard border.

Yousaf said: “The Scottish government is intensifying its preparations for all EU exit possibilities in order to protect Scotland’s economy, businesses and workers.

“While we are doing everything we can to prepare, we will not be able to mitigate all of the impacts of a no-deal exit on Scotland.

“The chief constable has been clear that Police Scotland will be ready to respond to any civil contingency issues arising from EU exit, including the policing of the country’s ports and borders, and possible protests and civil unrest.

“The Brexit Coordination Centre will be central to managing those priorities and the wider resilience response across local authorities, emergency services and other public sector bodies – ensuring Scotland stands ready to deal with the implications of leaving the EU.

“Decisions around officer deployment and contingency planning are of course operational decisions for the chief constable.

“I welcome his decision to put 360 officers on standby from today for EU exit-related incidents as a prudent, sensible approach to contingency planning to ensure Police Scotland remains well-placed to keep people safe.”