Overview
- Greater Manchester Police said Saturday’s march drew roughly 1,000 Britain First supporters and a similar number of counter-protesters, resulting in three arrests.
- Officers used PAVA spray, a type of pepper spray, after a small group tried to break police lines and throw punches, and police reported no injuries to the public.
- Metrolink halted cross‑city trams with key stops at Piccadilly Gardens, Market Street and St Peter’s Square closed, then services began to return later in the afternoon.
- Police used a Section 34 dispersal order, which lets officers direct people to leave an area, through 8pm, and a Section 60 power that expanded stop‑and‑search and allowed orders to remove face coverings.
- Leaders condemned racism and urged unity as GMP framed the day as facilitating lawful protest with tighter controls, a response shaped by February’s clashes that led to 11 arrests and criticism of police planning.