The Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Rachel Williams, has released a statement ahead of the demonstrations today.

She said: “We are well prepared for what is set to be a busy day in the centre of London.

“Our role is to ensure that those attending the various events can do so safely and that they can exercise their right to lawful protest. We will have significant resources in place to respond to any incidents, to deal decisively with any offences, and to keep disruption to other members of the public and businesses to a minimum.

“We know that when groups with opposing views come together it can lead to conflict and disorder and a key part of our role is ensuring that does not happen. We have used Public Order Act conditions to ensure that those involved stick to routes and assembly areas that are sufficiently far apart. Officers will be monitoring closely to ensure that conditions are adhered to.

“The impact of frequent significant protest in central London is considerable, not least on the officers deployed to police them. Many would be working in other frontline roles if they weren’t required for these events. We’re grateful for the assistance of colleagues from other forces whose contribution means we are able to police protests while also keeping local communities across London safe.”