People were arrested for various offences including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray.Patrick Edrich and Dan Haygarth Liverpool Daily Post Editor and Regeneration Reporter
17:28, 23 Aug 2025
Merseyside Police in Liverpool city centre today(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Several people were arrested following a protest by UKIP in Liverpool city centre earlier today (August 23), which was met by a counter-protest by anti-fascist demonstrators. UKIP confirmed its supporters would gather at St George’s Place in the city centre today, for a “Liverpool mass deportations’ march”.
In an update put out on its social media, the party said its plan was to “reclaim Liverpool from the far-left and send a message to the government”. A counter protest organised by Stand Up to Racism was planned to gather at St George’s Hall to “oppose fascist UKIP in Liverpool”.
The UKIP march was due to finish near Liverpool Women’s Hospital in Toxteth. City leaders said the timing and route of the rally raised “serious questions about intent and impact”.
A march by UKIP began at around 1.20pm, but shortly afterwards the procession was directed back to St George’s Hall after Merseyside Police used legislation known as Section 12 under the Public Order Act (1986). As such, the march failed to make it to the hospital.
Police said the decision to invoke this legislation was made due to the serious disruption which was being caused to the community at the time, including the road network.
A spokesperson said: “The safety of the public was paramount, and we wanted to ensure minimum disruption for local communities and businesses in the city centre.
“We respect the rights of everyone to take part in lawful and peaceful protests, but we will never tolerate acts of criminality or anti-social behaviour.”
In total, there were 11 people arrested for various offences, including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray.
Superintendent Karl Baldwin said: “There was a large policing presence in Liverpool city centre today to ensure the safety of those taking part in the protest and counter-protest as well as the wider public.
“We will never tolerate acts of criminality or anti-social behaviour and despite the vast majority of people protesting lawfully and peacefully, sadly there were a number of people who were arrested for various offences, including public order offences and assault.
“A decision was made shortly after the march got underway to apply conditions under Section 12 of the Public Order Act, which redirected the march back to St George’s Hall.
“This decision wasn’t taken lightly and was made because there was evidence of serious disruption to the community, which is one of the limited reasons such conditions can be applied.
“The police are often faced with the challenge of treading the fine line between upholding everyone’s rights to protest equitably, whilst endeavouring to keep the peace and ensure the public are safe. We plan ahead, in a co-ordinated way, to ensure we do this consistently, fairly and proportionately.
“We would like to thank members of the public and businesses in the city centre for their patience during the course of this event.”
Before the march, Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson said: “The hospital is in close proximity to the African Caribbean Centre, which will be hosting a significant community celebration. The potential for disruption, distress, and intimidation in these spaces is unacceptable.”
The UKIP march coincided with the marking of Slavery Remembrance Day.
Cllr Robinson added: “Let me be clear: hate speech, racism, and bigotry have no place in Liverpool. We will not tolerate any attempt to undermine the safety, dignity, or cohesion of our communities.”