Police have arrested four people following angry confrontations between police and protesters who converged on Melbourne’s CBD to counter a rally.

Vision shows a group of people dressed in black with their faces covered clashing with officers on Russell Street on Saturday morning.

It is believed the group was connected to a counter-protest against a rally organised by Women’s Voices Australia called ‘Women Will Speak’ at Victorian parliament on nearby Spring Street.

A group of police officers in yellow vests scuffle with people dressed in black in a city street.

A scuffle broke out as the counter protesters moved along Russell Street. (ABC News)

Three police officres in yellow vests hold a person down on a city street.

Police said they made four arrests. (ABC News)

Police also said they used OC spray, conducted about 145 searches and directed numerous people to remove face coverings.

Officers estimated about 120 people attended the Women Will Speak protest while there were about 80 counter-protesters.

Arrests included a 21-year-man from Flemington who police said allegedly struck a police officer with an umbrella. 

A 19-year-old woman from Wallington and a 27-year-old man from Coburg were arrested for allegedly being in possession of flares. And a 33-year-old man from Oakleigh South was arrested for failing to move on.

Three officers were injured but did not require hospitalisation.

Protest and counter-protest

Women’s Voices Australia’s Instagram account describes the group as “working to maintain and strengthen women’s and girls’ sex-based rights”.

“We work with a coalition of women’s groups to support freedom of speech and expression,” the description says.

Two lines of police officers stretch across a city road behind an orange barricade with State Parliament behind them.

Police blocked counter protesters from reaching state parliament where the Women Will Speak rally was being held. (ABC News)

People stand on a city street with purple, white and green flags.

The Women Will Speak rally was organised by Women’s Voices Australia. (ABC News)

A social media call-out by Trans Queer Solidarity urged counter-protesters to come wearing masks and to cover identifiable features.

“Be ungovernable,” a post said.

A large group of people dressed in black with their faces covered stand in the middle of a city street with a sign.

Counter protesters gathered on Spring Street before the rally started. (ABC News)

A group of people stand on a CBD street near State Parliament with one holding up the blue, pink and white transgender flag,

The counter protesters banged drums, blew whistles and waved transgender flags near the Women Will Speak rally. (ABC News)

Police set up barricades on Spring Street to keep the two groups apart.

A small group of counter protesters banged drums, clapped hands and blew whistles while waving transgender flags.

Most members of the group did not directly confront officers on Spring Street or the rally attendees, but there was a report of a small scuffle with a member of the media.

A group of police officers gather round protesters in black with one officer pushing one of the protesters.

Police pushed back counter protesters after a small scuffle with a member of the media on Spring Street. (AAP: Con Chronis)

On Friday, Victoria Police alerted the media to online posts encouraging some of the protesters to interfere with journalists covering the event, including damaging cameras.

News outlets were encouraged to consider their security arrangements.

Melbourne’s CBD was declared a designated area for Saturday, allowing police to randomly search people and ask them to remove headwear, scarves and outer clothing.