They weren’t welcome. But for a second time in two months, they marched through the city anyway.
Chaos erupted when Britain First marched through Manchester on February 21, met with two groups of counter-protesters. Violence broke out, 11 arrests were made, and there was a sense that police had ‘lost control’ of proceedings.
With two hours to go before supporters of the far-right group embarked on their demonstration last Saturday (April 18), it was clear Greater Manchester Police weren’t leaving anything to chance. Police lines effectively divided the city in two either side of Piccadilly Gardens.
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It’s understood there were more than double the number of officers in attendance last Saturday than during February’s protests. GMP expected around 1,000 protesters from Britain First to show up, plus another roughly 1,000 counter-protesters.
In the end, numbers fell short of expectations. Police say around 1,000 people attended the demonstrations in total from across both sides.
The number of protesters was significantly lower than expected(Image: Manchester Evening News)
For many Mancunians and visitors to the city, the situation brought major disruption, with trams grinding to a halt and pedestrian routes blocked off. It’s understood that, unlike February’s proceedings, the policing operation went as planned. Just three people were arrested and the separate groups were largely kept well away from one another.
Yet the operation has not been without criticism. Footage has since emerged online showing moments of confrontation involving police. Counter-protesters have described being caught by surprise having been PAVA sprayed early in the day’s proceedings.
‘Really took people by surprise’
By the time crowds formed for the two demonstrations, a significant police presence was already in place. As in February, Britain First supporters gathered on Store Street underneath Piccadilly station. Counter-protesters from both Stand Up to Racism and the anti-fascist movement, who marched separately in February, united at Piccadilly Gardens last Saturday.
Confrontations began at the counter-protest shortly after midday. While police blocked the demonstration from moving past Piccadilly Gardens, in the direction of Piccadilly station, some counter-protesters began to chant ‘let us march’.
Moments later, officers were seen pushing a line of protesters back to stay in Piccadilly Gardens. As the situation unfolded, PAVA spray – a synthetic pepper spray which is considered more potent than the traditional one – was used towards some of those in attendance.
The moment a substance is sprayed towards counter-protesters at Piccadilly Gardens(Image: Manchester Stand Up to Racism)
One counter-protester who was sprayed by the substance told the Manchester Evening News: “I think there had been some movement, people had started to shape up to march out of the square, and at that point they were confronted by police – pushed back with some force. PAVA spray seemed to come out of nowhere, that’s what really took people by surprise.
“I was on the ground for a good half an hour. I’ve not been PAVA sprayed before, it took me by surprise how bad it was. I couldn’t catch my breath, I couldn’t open my eyes. When that happens and you’re in the middle of a crowd, it’s quite a panic-inducing experience.
“When I could get a glance at what was going on around me, I could see people in distress on the ground. It’s a very chaotic situation.”
The counter-protester, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he believed the PAVA spray had been ‘fired at people’s eyes without provocation’. He described attending hospital the following day while suffering with the after-effects.
“I spent several hours at hospital [on Sunday] because I was struggling with my breath as a consequence,” he said. “I feel much better now but I know there are other people that are still dealing with injuries. It’s quite traumatic – hearing police sirens or knocking on doors, the impact of it triggers a traumatic response.”
The moment a substance is sprayed towards a counter-protester at Piccadilly Gardens(Image: Manchester Stand Up to Racism)
Another counter-protester who was sprayed told the M.E.N. the police line at Piccadilly Gardens ‘did not seem particular tight’ before events escalated. He said: “I was not aware of any plan, where we were going to move.”
The counter-protester, a first-year university student, was stood holding a banner while facing the direction of Piccadilly station when some of the group began to move. He said: “Police started trying to push us back. Very early on, things escalated a lot beyond pushing us back.
“One smashed the glasses off my face, they fell onto the floor. Shortly after that I was pepper sprayed from behind the main police line. After that I tried to get out as quickly as possible so I could get my eyes cleaned out. It was one of the most painful experiences I’ve had in my life.”
He described being sprayed ‘from around one metre away’. After stepping away from the protest, he tried ‘washing them out for around 10 minutes’ before being left with a burning sensation ‘for the rest of the day’.
“The protest environment was quite hectic,” he added. “Police were pushing very strongly against us. After the spray wore off I could feel the bumps and bruises a bit more.”
Police lines dominated the city centre(Image: Manchester Evening News)
GMP addressed the use of PAVA spray during Saturday’s demonstrations. A force spokesperson said: “Force was required when counter-protesters had tried to break police lines and attempted to throw punches. PAVA spray was deployed as a tactic instead of using further additional force.”
Yet those at the centre of the melee have questioned whether the use of the spray was proportionate. It was criticised by the Northern Police Monitoring Project – an organisation which claimed officers ‘behaved thuggishly, with consistent and serious aggression and violence – overwhelmingly directed at antifascist counter-protesters’.
As with previous demonstrations, events last Saturday were witnessed by multiple observers, journalists and YouTubers – some more neutral than others. One neutral observer, who followed the counter-protest closely, told the M.E.N.: “I believe the alleged deployment of the pepper spray just off Piccadilly Gardens, in attempt to move the crowd off a road which Britain First were not likely to be going down anyway, was unnecessary.”
‘The policing was definitely much tighter’
The flashpoint came well before Britain First had even set off from Store Street. GMP shared images captured from above Piccadilly Gardens, showing a police line blocking counter-protesters at 12.13pm, before some of the group had gathered on the tram tracks nearby at 12.32pm.
From left: Counter-protesters on tramlines, both groups separated by police near Portland Street, and a splinter group of counter-protesters surrounded by police near St Peter’s Square(Image: GMP)
By 1.05pm, a smaller group of counter-protesters were pictured being surrounded by police near St Peter’s Square. At the same time, most of the counter-protesters had remained in Piccadilly Gardens, ready to face off the Britain First march from behind their respective police lines.
While Britain First made their way to St Peter’s Square via Portland Street, counter-protesters headed down Mosley Street. Every street between the two was entirely blocked off by officers, preventing the groups from coming together in ugly scenes similar to those witnessed on February 21.
The neutral observer said: “The policing was definitely much tighter, but after the amount of violence at the previous one, it was to be expected.” Occasional flashpoints were quickly stamped out.
Footage widely shared online following the demonstrations showed anti-fascists being heftily pushed back by officers in the Peter Street area, with some landing on the ground. When a number of Britain First supporters attempted to turn towards the Gay Village, officers swiftly pushed them back on course.
Police clash with Britain First supporters(Image: Loannis Alexopoulos/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A potential stand-off by the side of the Midland Hotel was quickly broken up, while force was used by police against a number of Britain First supporters who tried to reach counter-protesters by the side of the town hall. It’s understood concerns have also been raised about the use of force against a small number of Britain First supporters.
A GMP spokesperson said: “A small breakaway group of protesters had made their way down the side of the town hall. Officers were later met with resistance as they moved them away from the nearby counter group and some force was required.”
Much of the footage was gathered by YouTubers, including some so-called ‘auditors’ who attended protests. Concerns were raised in February over auditors behaving provocatively towards counter-protesters in order to get a reaction, and it’s understood GMP was keen to clamp down on the issue last weekend.
During the melee beside the town hall(Image: YouTube: Demarco TV)
Some auditors who attended the previous demonstration in February were not present for the April march. One source, who is an expert on far-right demonstrations, told the M.E.N. that their absence was ‘a lot of why the protest wasn’t quite as awful’. Yet the neutral observer suggested there were similar numbers of content creators in attendance, with new faces joining more familiar ones.
‘Our priority is always to protect public safety’
For most people in the city centre on Saturday, the protests meant significant upheaval as they tried to go about their day. Some businesses ‘prepared for the worst’ – but the size of the police operation, and the lower-than-anticipated turnout, meant that never materialised.
“To be honest it was the calmest I have ever seen town on a Saturday because there were so many police,” Kaja Rose, from Tanning Lounge, told the M.E.N. Neil Clarke, of Clampdown Records, added: “It seemed like there were more flags than people.”
Ahead of the protests, both council leader Bev Craig and mayor Andy Burnham issued statements insisting there is no place in the city ‘for any form of racism or hate’. For many counter-protesters, there is frustration that their efforts to prevent the far-right from marching through town are met with challenge.
Police during the demonstration on Saturday(Image: Manchester Evening News)
That frustration isn’t unwarranted. Shahzur Ahmad, from Portland Street-based Portland News, told the M.E.N. his colleague was racially abused by some Britain First supporters. He said: “It was just one guy as they were walking back after the march.
“He was terrified to be honest. He’s new to the UK – he’s only been here three or four months. They were calling him an f****** immigrant and telling him to go home. It was really upsetting for him.”
Following the demonstration, GMP said ‘the vast majority of both sides caused no issues’ for officers. Three people were arrested and later bailed by police.
One male counter-protester was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which allowed officers to require the removal of face coverings, while another male counter-protester was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. A woman was also arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace, with GMP unsure if she was part of either demonstration.
One of the arrests made last Saturday(Image: Manchester Evening News)
GMP said Britain First engaged with the force prior to the protests, but counter-protesters did not, with officers knowing less about their plans prior to last Saturday. Promising to facilitate both groups in the city centre, Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said at the time: “Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their rights to protest can do so safely, but intervening at the first signs of actions that cross the line of criminality.”
While Northern Police Monitoring Project says medics reported providing treatment to as many as 100 people on the day, GMP says it is unaware of any injuries following the demonstrations. The force has promised to investigate ‘acts of violence and disorder’ which erupted during the day’s proceedings, while anyone with concerns can raise complaints through the official channels.
A force spokesperson said: “During what was a very busy day in Manchester city centre, officers responded to several incidents and intervened in altercations between groups. On some occasions this spilled over into acts of violence and disorder, and these will be fully investigated.
“We will utilise a range of criminal and civil powers to bring offenders to justice, ensuring that those who wish to protest peacefully can do so. We would also encourage anyone with mobile phone or CCTV footage from the protests to report it to us as it could assist our enquiries. Our priority is always to protect public safety while supporting people’s right to protest peacefully.”
Regardless of how unwelcome they may be, the Britain First marches are allowed by law as long as the group engages with police in advance, and officers have a duty to ensure public order is maintained as much as possible. When the next major demonstration is pencilled in the diary, another huge policing operation is sure to follow.