UK riots today live: Dozens of anti-racism rallies planned as over 700 arrested amid far-right disorder

Around 40 anti-immigration protesters have gathered in Newcastle as hundreds of counter-protesters also met in the city on Saturday morning.

Police officers separated the two groups, with some signs reading “Immigrants welcome, racists not!” and “Hope not hate”, according to the Newcastle Chronicle.

An anti-racism rally will take place in Belfast later on Saturday, after a week of anti-immigration rioting and disorder.

Organised by the United Against Racism group, the demonstration will start at Writer’s Square at midday before marching to City Hall.

It comes after around a thousand people gathered in the city for a counter-protest against several hundred anti-immigration demonstrators on Friday evening.

A heavy police presence and barriers were put in place to keep the two groups apart at Belfast City Hall, while Donegall Square North and Wellington Place were closed to traffic for several hours.

People at the anti-immigration protest were seen holding signs with slogans such as “Shankill Road says no to illegal immigration” and chanting “Send them home”.

In Aldershot, Hampshire Police charged five men following a protest on Wednesday during which a police officer was injured,

Joe Howell, 19, Kieron Marney, 25, Perrie Fisher, 28, Cameron Bowling, 40, and Clive Patfield, 60, will appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on 13 August charged with violent disorder.

Northumbria Police has confirmed that it has implemented a number of extra legal powers to ensure the safety of the public in Newcastle today.

The force assured in a post on social media this morning: “To help us keep our communities safe today, a legal order has been put in place allowing officers to control the movement of those taking part in today’s protests. Demonstrators will be limited to Bigg Market and Newgate Street.

“We also have a separate legal order in place giving officers increased stop and search powers, allowing them to search people and vehicles for weapons. We will require anyone within the area shown below to remove face coverings used to hide their identity.

“These measures have been put in place to protect those visiting and living in Newcastle, and with every deployable officer on our streets, we’re doing everything we can to ensure today passes without serious incident.”

A man has been charged with violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker in Solihull, West Midlands.

Adam Turner, 38, from Birmingham, was arrested on Friday and charged. He was remanded to appear before Birmingham Magistrates Court on Saturday.

West Midlands Police said a glass was thrown at an officer in Damson Lane as the force responded to a large gathering in the area on Sunday 4 August, although nobody was injured.

Dozens of anti-racist rallies have been planned across the UK today as over 700 people have been arrested in relation far-right violence sweeping the country.

Up to 22 demonstrations are set to take place today in towns and cities including Portsmouth, Newcastle, Manchester, Oxford and Cardiff.

Campaign group Stand up to Racism has also planned a rally outside Reform UK’s political office as it accused Nigel Farage of “inciting fascist rioters”.

The wife of a Tory councillor will appear in court today, accused of stirring up racial hatred online.

Lucy Conolly, 41, was arrested on Tuesday night and released on bail pending further enquiries.

Those enquiries resulted in her being re-arrested yesterday and charged with one count of publishing written material to stir up racial hatred.

It follows the publication of a now-deleted post on her X account, stating: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f*****g hotels full of the bastards for all I care… If that makes me racist, so be it.”

Up to 741 people have been arrested in relation to the far-right violence that swept the country following a stabbing attack in Southport, Merseyside, on 29 July.

Around 302 people have been charged for offences ranging from violent disorder to theft and antisocial behaviour, the National Police Chief’s Council said.

“We are working hard to bring this disorder to an end, but arrests are just getting started – and we have already made hundreds,” NPCC chair Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said.

“We won’t stop until communities get the justice they deserve after suffering such violence and the spreading of online hate.”

Meanwhile, 6,000 public order officers remain on standby to face further disruption over the weekend.

Two more people have been charged following violent disorder in Southport in Liverpool, with a total of 24 now charged, according to Merseyside Police.

Andrew McIntyre, 39, has been charged with encouraging an offence of murder; encouraging an either way offence namely violent disorder and possession of a bladed article.

A 16-year-old has also been charged with violent disorder, two counts of burglary, criminal damage to a police vehicle and assault on an emergency worker in Liverpool city centre.