Three thousand riot officers readied for weekend of protests in England and Wales

At least 20 asylum seekers’ hotels could be the focus of demonstrations and counter-rallies over migration

Three thousand riot officers will be deployed and placed on standby amid concerns a string of anti-asylum seeker protests and counter-protests this weekend could lead to violence and disorder.

Police commanders at a national level have made the decision. It is the first time since last summer’s riots that there has been a mass and national standing up of specialist public order officers.