Planned demonstrations were due to take place outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Grenoble Road from noon on Saturday, November 1.

But Thames Valley Police had imposed a ban on any protest going ahead in the area of the Kassam Stadium between 12.30pm and 7pm due to the matchday with Oxford United at home to Millwall.

Blackbird Leys resident Martin Scarrott showed up outside the hotel ahead of the public order act being in place.

Martin Scarrott (pictured in the mobility scooter) at a previous protest (Image: Staff photographer)

“Both sides called it off,” he said. “The left side said the police banned protests because of fascism but that’s not true.

“The police knew way in advance that the protest would be going ahead and that there was a game on, so why was the order put in place only the other day?”

A spokesman from Stand Up To Racism Oxford added: “We were initially asked to cancel our protest but refused as long as the fascist one was allowed.

“Now there is an extensive protest exclusion zone around the hotel and stadium from 12.30pm plus a three-day dispersal order from 8am Saturday morning.”

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Thames Valley Police said the ban was to “prevent serious disruptions and disorder” and anybody caught protesting within the restricted area would face being arrested.

Multiple officers were within the grounds of the Kassam Stadium, as is usual during a matchday.

The Kassam Stadium and Holiday Inn from above

Assistant chief constable Tim Metcalfe said on Friday afternoon: “Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but we will always take appropriate steps to ensure our communities remain safe.

“We ask everybody taking part in the protests to be considerate of the local communities and to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We are aware of recent tensions involving anti-asylum seeker protesters and residents of the Holiday Inn hotel.

“We want to be clear: any criminal activity – whether from protesters or residents – will not be tolerated. Swift and proportionate action will be taken against anyone committing criminal offences.

“While we will have a significant police presence, we also encourage anyone with information about behaviour that may require police investigation to come forward.

“Working together and alongside the community, helps us protect the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.”

Several protests have already been held outside the migrant hotel in previous months, with community tensions often high.

Progress on ending the use of hotels for asylum accommodation will be announced “within weeks”, the Housing Secretary Steve Reed said last month.

The Government has promised to end the housing of asylum seekers in hotels by 2029 amid mounting pressure over rising costs and a backlash in local communities.