SIGNIFICANT police resources are to be pumped into Bournemouth for the planned protests outside the town hall, a top Dorset cop has said.
Police officers from across the south west will join officers in Bournemouth, who are on overtime or have had annual leave cancelled, to ensure no offences are committed on Sunday, August 18.
Mark Callaghan, assistant chief constable in Dorset, warned anybody turning up to the demonstrations outside the town hall that disorder, discriminatory behaviour or violence won’t be tolerated.
Anti-immigration and counter anti-racism protesters are expected to turn out in their hundreds outside the town hall Bourne Avenue throughout the day on Sunday.
To prepare, Mr Callaghan said Dorset Police have been engaging with the event organisers first and foremost.
Information has also been gathered, which he said so far, the two groups are indicating they will be peaceful.
"As part of that work around developing the peaceful response to that peaceful process, we will obviously put in quite significant policing operation,” he said.
“Some of that is because if you look at what's happened nationally, we've had significant disorder and we hope here in Bournemouth it is a peaceful protest.
“But we will be prepared if pockets of individuals come and want to cause violence, disorder or hatred in our communities, which we're not going to tolerate.”
Specially trained officers from every force in the south west will be coming to Bournemouth this Sunday, but not all of them will be outside the town hall.
Just like what was seen in Weymouth, if any disorder does escalate, officers will be on standby to “quickly nip it in the bud”, Mr Callaghan added.
The national picture suggests Dorset has not seen anywhere near the disorder seen elsewhere, where police cars are being set on fire or officers are being pelted with stones or branches.
So far, eight people have been arrested in Weymouth and one person has been arrested in Bournemouth.
Jason Barry Francis, 38, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to violent disorder and assault of an emergency worker at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday.
Mr Callaghan also warned residents of the dangers of misinformation on social media which is “fuelling” some of the hatred and riots.
“Dorset Police is absolutely not anti-protest, but we're anti crime. We want people to know that if they're going to protest, we’re there to enable it is safe and legal.
“If people commit criminal offences, then we are going to deal with that really robustly.
“We also know that racism is often underreported, and we know that certain communities feel quite anxious.
“I want to give them reassurance that we've got a robust policing operation in place this weekend, but if you are being racially abused, if there is hate, then you can report it either through Dorset Police or third party.”
Mr Callaghan added policing around Dorset will be ‘business as usual’ while protests are taking place and acknowledged his officers and staff who are working “really hard”.
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