POLICE say they are ‘fully prepared’ to deal with violent behaviour and disorder by protesters in Bournemouth.

It follows reports of planned far-right protest activity in the town centre this evening.

Assistant chief constable Mark Callaghan said: “We are aware of information that has been circulating relating to potential protest activity this evening, Wednesday, August 7, at a location in Bournemouth town centre.

“While our checks have not identified any clear intelligence to confirm this report, we remain vigilant to any potential protests, violence or criminality towards our communities.

“We are receiving multiple reports of information every day, which our intelligence teams are working through at pace. We have specially trained teams of officers ready to deploy to any incident across the county.

“We fully recognise that members of public will quite rightly be concerned about the level of violence and public disorder we have seen across the country in recent days.

“Such violent behaviour is completely unacceptable, and I want to reassure members of the public that Dorset is fully prepared and has robust plans in place to respond to any reports of disorder and minimise any impact on our communities.

“I want to be absolutely clear that anyone involved in violent behaviour and disorder on our streets will be dealt with swiftly and robustly. Offenders will be arrested and brought before the courts.”

Councillor Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, said: “The last week has seen widespread disorder across the UK following the tragic events in Southport with riots and violent protests taking place in numerous towns and cities.

“We understand that residents and businesses watching the national situation may be concerned.

“The safety of our communities remains the priority for BCP Council, and I would like to reassure residents that we are working closely with Dorset Police and other partners to monitor the situation and ensure we are prepared for any potential activity.

“We are working to reassure our residents, businesses, visitors and faith groups by providing advice and support.

“We are immensely proud of the diverse and vibrant communities that help make Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole such a special place and we are deeply committed to making sure that BCP remains a welcoming sanctuary for all those who call our three towns home.”