Mark White: Mobilising communities sets a dangerous precedent

Let's be clear, if those protests had gone ahead as feared, then the prospect of two groups facing off against each other in multiple locations would have been far more problematic than if those community groups had stayed at home.

But luckily, the intelligence around those protests was flawed.

Police, counter-protesters and the media appear to have mobilised largely on information contained in a list circulating on the messaging app Telegram.

It's not known who compiled and disseminated that list, but it sparked widespread concern and brought thousands onto the streets with the sated intention of 'defending their communities'.

Had that list been genuine and large numbers of protesters had targeted those areas, we could be telling a very different story today, of widespread violence and disorder, of opposing groups battling on the streets, with the police caught in the middle.

And that's why the messaging around the mobilisation of this community force seems pretty alarming to me.

No less a figure than the country's top cop has praised this force for playing a role in thwarting any planned protests.

Speaking to the broadcast media on Thursday morning, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "It was a massive policing operation. I'm really pleased with how it went. We put thousands of officers onto the streets.

"And I think, the show of force from the police, and frankly, the show of unity from communities, together defeated the challenges that we've seen.. so, a successful operation, thanks to communities and police."

Many of the counter-protesters who turned out last night were undoubtedly local people with genuine concerns for their particular communities.

But among them were significant numbers from the far left, mobilised by groups like Stand Up to Racism, Hope not Hate and the Socialist Workers Party.

And add to that, many local youths, masked up and clearly spoiling for a fight.

Over the years, I've covered many protests where anti-racist and anti-fascist groups have launched counter-protests.

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Without exception, officers policing those events have told me the participation of counter protests have simply made managing those demonstrations far more complex and challenging.

Policing one group can be difficult enough. But when two groups are present, facing off against each other, it can raise tensions significantly and split police resources, as they now have to manage two opposing groups.

And that's why the messaging around last night's counter-protests seems so troubling to me.

Rather than encouraging all sides to stay at home and help bring calm back to the streets, policing leaders, politicians and many in the media appear supportive of these counter-protests.

That might be fine on an evening when there's nobody to face off against, but could be disastrous in the days ahead, if both sides show up in force.