Greater Manchester Police ran a dedicated policing operation over the course of the weekend, strategically working with partners and protest organisers to facilitate peaceful and lawful protests.
Officers made five arrests on Saturday and a further 14 arrests on Sunday in relation to offences for being drunk and disorderly, possession of a weapon, assault, criminal damage, and violent disorder.
A dedicated team of officers are currently working to bring charges against those arrested and investigators are carrying out work to identify further offenders who will become subject of police action.
Seven people were charged with possession of a weapon: Ajaz Ahmed (43), Daniel Robinson (37), Matthew Edge (34), Hamza Mohammed (23), Keenan Sanders (20), and two 16-year-olds.
Gareth Rigby (43) was charged with assault
“I want to thank the vast majority of law-abiding citizens of Greater Manchester who either stayed away from events over the weekend, or who took part by sharing their views in a way that did not break the law but which upheld our democratic right to peaceful protest,” said Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.
Nonetheless, it was evident that certain individuals from various political and cultural backgrounds attended all of the gatherings with the intention of stirring up disturbance and breaching the law.
“Inciting hatred and committing harm have repercussions, and those who break the law will face the consequences of their conduct.
“Charges have been promptly sought in cases where arrests have been made, and some offenders have already made an appearance.”
“I express my gratitude to the numerous employees who participated in the organization and coordination of the events, as well as those who persistently answered the phone and attended to assistance requests.
“We are tenacious and will continue to have a very visible presence throughout Greater Manchester in our policing response.
As part of our commitment to community protection, our size and security will be centered on reassurance and prevention, with specially trained officers stationed to minimize disruption potential and outfitted with rapid response and early intervention tools.
Engaging with members of our communities serves as a constant reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a location where voices are actively given a platform.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Mayor said: “Thuggery, violence attacking police, emergency workers and innocent people by ANY group on names of religion, nationalism, race etc can’t be justified and all should condemn them.
“You can’t protect British values or Britain by throwing bricks at each other.”
Cllr Chauhan said his “strongest advice” for people across the country is to avoid travelling to places with “high tensions” and avoid “slogans which will fuel tensions further”.
The Mayor also said people “don’t need [certification] from thugs of being equal citizens in this country” and urged residents to “respect others if you want to be respected – hatred will just product hatred”.
He added: “You don’t need to reclaim streets [or] protect mosques by standing outside mosques.
“Check on your neighbours, especially in affected areas.
“Follow police advice and respect instructions given.
“They are leaving families at home and are giving up rest days to protect us and our communities.
“As an individual, I am honored to be a part of the NHS, where members from 200 nations help our communities without regard to race, gender, or religion.
“I am honored to have served my community in a variety of capacities as an elected representative for many years, working with incredible colleagues from many walks of life.
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