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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
Josh Payne

Police ‘absolutely ready’ to use powers to ban masks at anti-migration protests

Police officers near Eastney Beach, Portsmouth, where hundreds of protesters gathered after a small boat thought to be containing asylum seekers and heading towards the coast sparked a major response with a helicopter, aeroplane and lifeboats sent to the scene (PA) - (PA Wire)

A police chief has said officers are “absolutely ready” to use powers to ban face coverings at anti-migration protests, saying hundreds of masked men descending on his town would make him “nervous as well”.

Forces have stepped up planning and intelligence-gathering ahead of the weekend after the Home Secretary warned that the protesters are trying to intimidate communities.

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