Rioting Unrest fails to materialise amid threat of tough jail sentences

Planned far-right rallies did not materialise over the weekend amid a large turnout of anti-racist protesters and comments from the director of public prosecutions that rioters could end up with 10-year prison sentences.

- Robyn Vinter

Planned far-right action in towns and cities such as Newcastle, Liverpool, Basildon, Wakefield and Shrewsbury did not happen, while a handful of small rallies resulted in swift arrests.

In Yeovil, a small anti-immigration gathering was dispersed by police, with four arrests for offences including racially aggravated public disorderly behaviour and possession of a knife.

The Reform UK party's central London offices were targeted by antiracism protesters in a peaceful march involving 5,000 people, and in Belfast 15,000 people turned up in one of its biggest ever anti-racism gatherings.

Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, 10 police officers were injured in clashes with nationalists in Derry in separate riots that followed the annual Apprentice Boys loyalist parade.

Petrol bombs, fireworks and stones were thrown at police in unrest involving as many as 50 people.