Home secretary Shabana Mahmood has told police chiefs to take stronger action against intimidating anti-migrant demonstrators in balaclavas ahead of more planned protests at the weekend.
Police have faced criticism after hundreds of far-right protesters blocked roads in Dover and abused officers and RNLI volunteers in Portsmouth last weekend. On Wednesday, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said police should review whether they could have acted on available intelligence or taken firmer enforcement action against the demonstrators. No arrests were made at either incident.