Hundreds gather for Newcastle anti-racism protest

Anti-racism demonstrators gathered on Newcastle's Newgate Street

Police officers have been out in force as hundreds of people gathered in Newcastle city centre for an anti-racism rally.

Crowds waving banners saying "refugees welcome" congregated in Newgate Street, while a small number of anti-immigration protesters gathered in the nearby Bigg Market area.

Northumbria Police said it had implemented a number of extra legal powers, including enhanced stop-and-search, to prevent a repeat of disorder seen across the country in the wake of three young girls being killed in Southport last month.

The force has made 14 arrests, including for possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a Class B drug and failure to comply with some of the orders in place.

Police detained an anti-immigration protester wearing a rubber facemask

None of the arrests was for disorder or violent offences.

Anti-racism protester Laura Jackson said she felt it was important to show "strength in numbers".

"We are here to show [the people who took part in riots] are not the majority - we are," she explained.

Lines of police kept the group apart from a smaller anti-immigration gathering on the Bigg Market where protesters told the BBC they were "sick of being ignored".

"We're just making our voices heard," one man in the group said.

One woman said she was "sick of being called far right".

"We're not. We're just normal citizens," she said.

A line of police kept the group apart from anti-immigration protesters nearby

Ch Supt Steve Wykes said the day's events were "peaceful and passed without incident" thanks to a "robust" policing operation which had seen officers' rest days cancelled and resources redeployed.

He added: "Our main aim today was to ensure that people coming into Newcastle could do so in a safe and enjoyable way.

"I'm pleased to say we've achieved that and I hope our communities will echo those sentiments.

"Our region has spoken – we will not tolerate the disgraceful disorder seen over the last week by a minority whose only aim is create division."

The operation was supported by officers from other forces.

Police said anyone causing disorder would "face the full force of the law"

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Kemp praised police for a "phenomenal job", adding he wanted to "say a huge thank you to our communities who showed Newcastle respect today and ensured families could enjoy a safe day in our city".

"Across the country we have seen right-wing agitators looking to divide our city and sow seeds of hatred," he said.

"Today Newcastle showed them what we are about.

"This Geordie nation is incredible, it is inclusive, welcoming and diverse."