There will be a significantly increased police presence across the city centre on 18 April, with additional police powers in place. We expect up to around a thousand protesters and a thousand counter‑protesters to be present.

The organisers of the main protest have engaged with us, and there is an agreed route in place. The group is due to start gathering at midday, with the march planned to begin from Store Street at 1.15pm and finish at St Peter’s Square at around 2pm.

There will be a static assembly in St Peter’s Square, where several speeches are planned and expected to last for approximately an hour. Counter‑protests are also expected to take place in the city centre during this time and space will be designated for this.

Our priority is public safety. We will facilitate people’s right to protest and intervene quickly and proportionately if behaviour crosses the line into criminality.

There will be an increase in police powers available to us on Saturday, based on information we have ahead of the event. These powers are being used to minimise serious disruption to the lives of people and businesses in the local community.

We will be using three key pieces of legislation that will cover the city centre on Saturday and will be constantly reviewed:

Section 34 of the Anti‑Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which is a dispersal power allowing officers to direct people to leave an area to prevent anti‑social behaviour or disorder. Anyone who fails to comply can be arrested. Section 60 and Section 60AA of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, which provide enhanced stop and search powers and allow officers to require the removal of face coverings.

Some disruption to roads and public transport should be expected, particularly close to the city centre and along the route of the march.

We are working closely with partners and local businesses to minimise the wider impact, and would advise people intending to travel into the city centre to follow the latest travel advice and plan ahead.

Updates will be provided through our official GMP X account during the day.

Assistant Chief Constable Rick Jackson said: “The public should expect to see a large police presence in the city centre on Saturday as part of our policing operation focused on keeping people safe and minimising the wider impact during the planned protest and counterprotests.

“Disruption should be expected but we are working with partners in the city centre to mitigate this. We’ll have significant resources in place to facilitate protest and to ensure our local communities, businesses and visitors to Manchester can go about their day safely and with as minimal impact as possible.

“Our officers will police without fear or favour, ensuring those exercising their right to protest can do so safely, while intervening when behaviour crossing the line into criminality.”

We’re preparing for planned protests and counter‑protests in Manchester city centre this Saturday (18 April). You’ll see a much larger police presence, and additional powers will be in place to help keep people safe.

The main march will finish in St Peter’s Square where a static assembly and speeches will follow. Space will also be designated for counter‑protests.

We’ll have significant resources in place to facilitate protest and ensure our communities, businesses and visitors can go about their day safely.

Some disruption to roads and public transport is likely, so please plan ahead: Weekend travel advice | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM

Our officers will police without fear or favour, enabling lawful protest while intervening when behaviour crosses into criminality.

We’ll share updates throughout the day on our official GMP X account.

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