07:01

Police have imposed restrictions on freedom of assembly around Westminster today over fears of a violent confrontation between opposing demonstrations.



Mounted riot police, and officers in riot gear were deployed outside the BBC on Portland place, where antiracist groups have been gathering for a march to Whitehall to oppose the “stop Brexit betrayal” demonstration led by the far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson.



A multicultural crowd of thousands of mainly young protesters marched under placards saying “no to racism; no to fascism”, “oppose Tommy Robinson”, and “fuck fascism”.

Some had faces covered. Sources in antiracist groups have said some members were keen to find a way to block the opposing march

Damien Gayle (@damiengayle) Anarchist feminists chant as they begin marching on the #StopTommyRobinson demo down Portland Place pic.twitter.com/M3d2SA7tOj

Robinson’s supporters have been gathering outside the Dorchester on Park Lane for a march through Victoria to Parliament Square and Whitehall.

The Metropolitan police has said it will deploy officers on Whitehall to keep the opposing demonstrations apart. The force has set strict restrictions to the timings of each protest and the routes of their respective marches.

“Breach of the conditions is a criminal offence, and anyone breaching them may find themself [sic] liable to arrest,” police said in a statement.



“The decision to apply Section 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act was taken based on current tensions and concerns, the current intelligence picture about Sunday and previous marches and protests held by similar groups,” the force said. “Taking all these factors into consideration the MPS has made an operational policing decision to take this approach, and believe it to be proportionate in these specific circumstances.”