Phil Bodmer
Reporting from Sheffield

Around 1,500 people are taking part in a counter-protest in Sheffield this evening.

There is a large and visible police presence. So far, it’s peaceful but noisy, with chants of “our streets, not their streets”.

Passing vehicles that toot are greeted by cheers from those assembled.

I’ve counted around twenty police vans, most of which are being kept at a discreet distance from the demo. Officers are all wearing body armour but carrying their protective head gear.

It’s a dry mild evening in South Yorkshire and tonight’s demo follows a peace vigil held earlier this evening in Rotherham Minster, when all faiths and people with no faith were invited to come together in a show of unity.

As dusk falls, this is a community hoping the night passes off without incident.

Andy Gill
Reporting from Liverpool

Hundreds of people are outside an Asylum Link office in Liverpool to support refugees and immigrants.

The windows of the centre had been boarded up ahead of an anticipated protest tonight by far-right groups in the wake of the Southport stabbings.

But so far there’s no sign of right-wing demonstrators nor of any violence.

People have been chanting that refugees are welcome here and holding up banners opposing fascism.

Police have blocked off the road at both ends to keep people safe on the road.

Jamie Morris and Peter Cooke
Reporting from Southampton

Around 10 anti-immigration protesters have arrived in Southampton this evening, while hundreds of counter-protestors are marching in Grosvenor Square, chanting "racists go home" and "racism off our streets".

The two groups are being kept apart by police and there has been one arrest.

A man wearing an England flag tried to flank the group of anti-immigration demonstrators. Officers tackled him to the ground and he has since been removed from the area.

Richard Purvis
Reporting from Bristol

We estimate there are now about 1,500 people at the counter-protest in Bristol’s Old Market area.

There are lots of signs, "migrants welcome", "hope not hate". There are chants and people climbing on benches to get a better look.

It's really calm and pleasant so far.

One man, Habib, originally from Gambia, told me Bristol is a “very vibrant city, and a very welcoming city”.

“Bristolians would not allow anybody to bring chaos into the city. That's why I feel like I'm going to join the Bristolians to stop what is going to happen tonight.|”

Harry Low
Reporting from Walthamstow

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Walthamstow, in east London, chanting, clapping and preaching a message of peace.

Many of them are holding signs reading “Hate not welcome here”, “Stop the far-right” and “I welcome refugees”.

A woman with a portable sound system is leading the call and response, saying: “Whose streets?”

The crowd of counter-protesters responds: “Our streets!”

“When the fascists return,” another man on a megaphone cries. “We fight back”, the masses reply.

Matthew Sydney
Reporting from Bristol

Hundreds of counter-protesters have gathered on West Street in Bristol. Almost all the businesses on the street have boarded windows.

Atmosphere festive, chants of “Whose streets, our streets”. There are a few Palestinian flags, and flags and banners from trade unions.

Very heavy police presence in the surrounding streets with several roadblocks in place. Police drone flying overhead. Riot police and horses are nearby, but out of sight of the main demonstration.

Travelling here, we saw a few scattered groups of what seemed to be “Enough is Enough” protesters, total number in the low teens. Their demonstration was due to start at 8pm – so far, no sign of that happening.

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent in Newcastle

Is this the point where the arrests and the quick and heavy sentences start to have a deterrent effect? And the point where those demonstrating against the rioters regain control of the streets?

It’s not clear where any far-right protesters will actually be able to go at the Newcastle demonstration tonight.

Counter-demonstrators shouting “refugees welcome” and “Nazi scum off our streets” have taken over the pavement in front of the Beacon Centre, which was listed as a place where anti-immigration protesters and the far-right would gather tonight.

Numbers appear to be approaching up to a thousand people now.

The local imam said they had been scared to come here after the violence this week, but they wanted to show the real side of Newcastle and were reassured by the presence of so many people. They chanted “Geordies united will never be defeated".

Tonight will be a test of whether those arrests, custodial sentences and the desire of others to come out and take a stand against the violence will have an impact on those who intended to riot.

Nick Johnson
Reporting from Harrow

“No to racism”, “Refugees welcome in Harrow” – these are a few examples of the placards waved by groups of people who have gathered in Harrow, following suggestions far-right protesters may target an immigration office here.

There is a large police presence here, too. Police vans dot the roads in the immediate area. But officers appear relaxed. They’re not dressed in riot gear, and they say their presence is purely a precautionary measure.

Nevertheless, most of the shops here in north Harrow closed early today.

The owner of a vape shop says some people feel worried this evening.

“It’s been a lot quieter today”, he says. “I’m opening the shop for the customers I recognise, but that’s it”.

James Cheyne
Reporting from Newcastle

A crowd of around 300 people have gathered for a counter-protest in Newcastle. A man with a megaphone said they were there to show the community "won't be intimated by these thugs".

The police officers still have their riot helmets on their belts, a few masked men dressed in black appeared briefly across the road, but locals here don't think the far right will turn out in force.

Still, a few minutes down the road there is a huge police presence on standby, with vans full of re-enforcements and police horses waiting in the road.

Daniel Sandford & Ben Hatton

We've been hearing from assistant commissioner Mark Williams, of the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC), on policing plans for potential unrest tonight.

The NPoCC coordinates nationally to ensure police forces have the resources they need when demand is highest – think large protests, international events, major football matches.

Williams says he believes this is the first time it has had to invoke its national mobilisation plan, which he says releases resources from forces to him to be deployed as needed across the country.

The last time something like that happened was probably back in 2011, he says, although the official structure in place now was not in operation then.

“The challenge is enormous,” he says, adding there are many thousands of public order trained officers who will be on duty until “very late this evening”.

"We're ready for today, and we're ready for the days ahead," he says.

• Thousands of police officers across the country are on standby in preparation for potential unrest tonight
• The Met Police says extra police are being sent to the north of England, and 1,300 more police officers are on standby in London
• Deputy PM Angela Rayner says there is "no excuse for thuggery and criminality on our streets"
• Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said those provoking disorder will "face the full force of the law"
• Earlier today, three people were jailed over their roles in the unrest over the past week. Prosecutors say it is the "tip of the iceberg"

• King Charles is being kept updated daily about the disorder, Buckingham Palace says

• About 140 people have been charged so far in relation to the unrest over recent days, the Crown Prosecution Service says

Stay with us for more.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

King Charles is being kept updated daily about the public disorder around the country, according to Buckingham Palace.

But he is not expected to make any imminent interventions or visits to trouble spots, with a response to the current problems being seen as the territory of the government, rather than politically-neutral royals.

During the wave of rioting in 2011, the late Queen Elizabeth didn’t send out any public message – and this response from the palace will be seen as a way of heading off calls for a big public statement from King Charles.

That being said, monarchs speak on the advice of ministers – and the situation is said to be open to review and will depend on discussions with the government.

But there are also practical sensitivities about a royal visit making things even more complicated for the police and emergency services on the ground.

It’s likely that once things have calmed that there will then be visits and attempts to offer reassurance to troubled areas.

The King, currently in Scotland, has long been involved in building bridges between different communities and faiths and he is said to be engaging privately in such efforts.

The violent unrest that's gripped areas of the UK started last week after three girls died following a knife attack at a dance class in Southport.

A vigil in memory of the victims took place in the Merseyside town on Tuesday evening. A night of unrest followed, in which people attacked a local mosque, heavy rocks were thrown at police, and a police vehicle was set on fire.

Disorder then broke out on Wednesday evening in central London, Hartlepool, Manchester and Aldershot.

BBC Verify found that social media had become flooded prior to the unrest with misinformation about the identity of the alleged attacker - who was later named - and posts by far-right groups.

Violent protests continued to spread in the UK from 2 and 5 August, including in Rotherham and Tamworth where violent demonstrations took place outside hotels reportedly housing asylum seekers.

Police are preparing today to respond to more than 100 events that are reportedly planned for this evening.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer yesterday promised communities "will be safe" and his deputy PM said earlier today that the police and courts "stand ready" to deal with any "thuggery and criminality".

Telegram app removing 'calls to violence' in the UKpublished at 17:50 British Summer Time 7 August

17:50 BST 7 August

By Shayan Sardarizadeh

The Telegram messaging app has confirmed to BBC Verify that it is “removing channels and posts containing calls to violence” in the UK.

We contacted the company after noticing that a Telegram group with 15,000 members, that was influential in organising protests across the country, was removed on Monday night amid a series of violent threats and racist messages posted by its members.

"Moderators are actively monitoring the situation and are removing channels and posts containing calls to violence. Calls to violence are explicitly forbidden by Telegram's terms of service," the company confirmed in a statement to the BBC.

BBC Verify has since observed two further attempts by those who set up the group to launch replacement ones - which have also been removed.

The group was among the first to circulate calls for protests in nearly 40 locations tonight.

Launched hours after the Southport killings, the group became flooded with misinformation about the identity of the suspect and called for a protest near the local mosque the next day.

Manuals on making petrol bombs, as well as calls for attacks against people from minority groups, were also posted in the group.

About 1,300 more public order officers are being deployed across London ahead of possible disorder tonight, the Met Police says.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine says that "mounted units, dog handlers, intelligence experts and evidence gatherers" have also been made available.

"We will be using retrospective facial recognition to help officers identify those behind criminal disorder. This technology can be used even when offenders are wearing masks," he says.

Valentine urges Londoners not to share inflammatory speculation online and to give police officers space to carry out their duties.

"We also ask parents to think carefully about where their children are today and in coming days," he says

Counter-terrorism units will be assisting police as they prepare for more "disgraceful disorder" across the UK tonight.

"We are supporting local forces with protective security expertise and advice," says Head of Counter-Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes.

He adds those behind the violence could be charged with terrorism offences.

“Our message to those involved in this disorder is: We are watching and we will not hesitate to use our powers to protect our communities," Jukes says.

Rayner says now that those who plan to throw missiles, attack people, or incite hatred – online or offline – "will be met with the law".

"We end up in a situation where we have here, where people's lives are at risk, where police officers' lives were put at risk by a small minority of criminality and thuggish behaviour," she adds.

She finishes by saying that it's been "heartening" to see the community response to the disorder. The vast majority of the British people "see this for what it is", Rayners says.

More now from the deputy PM.

Rayner says police and the courts "'stand ready" to deal with people involved in the riots.

Attacking the police and hotels, like what happened at the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, isn't a "legitimate grievance", she adds, calling it "thuggery and violence".

She adds that some of the public have been "afraid and scared".

Image source, UK POOL

In the last few moments, we've been hearing from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who is visiting a hotel in Rotherham which was attacked on Sunday.

Speaking about the unrest, Rayner says police will be there to respond to any violence or criminality planned for tonight, she says.

There is “no excuse for thuggery and criminality on our streets", she adds.

Rayner says any "online and offline criminality" will be faced with the law, and urges people to not get involved.

"That is not our British values," she says.

Thomas Copeland
Live reporter

Let's turn now to Belfast where Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has been speaking at a community centre.

He says he is "deeply shocked and became increasingly angry" after speaking with business owners targeted by violence in the last few days.

"What we have been witnessing is completely unacceptable," Benn says.

He says it is critical "that all political parties speak with one voice in condemning what has happened because this needs to be come to an end".

He urges the public to send evidence to the police, who are "very keen to catch those who have [been] engaging in violent disorder and criminality".

Image source, Getty Images