Police are today boosting the number of officers deployed at a protest in Dover after anti-fascist demonstrators and far-right campaigners violently clashed at an earlier rally.
Mounted police, police dogs and barriers will be used to try to maintain peace between far-right protesters and the Kent Anti-Racism Network.
Officers are braced for potentially "significant disruption" among some protesters planning to gather in the town centre this morning.
A demo held on January 30 descended into violence, which saw bricks and smoke bombs thrown, when National Front and anti-fascist groups marched through town at the same time.
Coaches carrying anti-fascist campaigners from London were also left with smashed windows after they were targeted on the way to the demonstration at Maidstone services on the M20.
Conditions have been imposed by police on the organisers and protesters on their route and timings of today’s march to avoid confrontations.
Officers plan to use stop-and-search powers on people and their vehicles, while masked protesters may be asked to reveal their faces, Kent Police said.
Around 40 people have been arrested since January’s protest, with 16 people charged with a variety of offences and 21 people on bail with conditions not to enter Dover.
Kent Police assistant chief constable Neil Jerome said: "It is safe to say there will be disruption in the town which, even with all the plans in place, cannot be completely avoided.
"We believe that if people are warned in advance, they can make arrangements to avoid getting caught up in the protest and go about their business. Our policing operation is intelligence-led, based on the best information available to us.
"However, due to the nature of these protests, it is impossible to know exactly how many people are going to be involved or how they will behave on the day.”
