Following the murders of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar at a Taylor Swift-themed dance event in Southport on July 29, racist violence has erupted in towns and cities across England and Belfast. Fuelled by an Islamophobic rumour that the murderer was Muslim, the far right has mobilised to enact violence against marginalised communities that has been in the making for years due to toxic political rhetoric around immigration, misleading media coverage and online radicalisation. 

The far-right has set hotels hosting asylum seekers on fire, has chased and beaten a Black man, attacked mosques, and so much more. Tonight (August 7), it has been reported that around 100 pogroms have been planned across the UK. In response to this violence, a number of anti-fascist counter-protests have been planned across the country.

While we must show racists that we will not cower in fear, it’s essential to know how to keep yourself and others safe while resisting the far-right.

COME PREPARED

You never know what will happen, so it’s important that you come as prepared as possible. Make sure you bring lots of water, snacks, a battery pack for your phone, and any medication you might need. It’s also helpful to wear layers in case you’re there longer than you planned to be (kettling is rare, but it does still happen). It might be summer, but it’s Britain, so a waterproof coat will probably be useful too. 

COVER YOUR FACE AND WEAR NON-DISTINCTIVE CLOTHING 

If you’re attending a counter-protest – or any protest, for that matter – it is important to protect your identity by covering your face and wearing non-distinctive clothing. As Netpol, the coalition monitoring and resisting police powers, has advised, you face the risk of being known by the far right, who sometimes “dox” anti-fascist campaigners. It is also vital for you to keep your phone, ID, or any other form of identification at home if possible. 

Additionally, the police increasingly use live facial recognition technology in the UK. In theory, this technology works by scanning faces and matching them against databases and watch lists, allowing police to identify and arrest suspected criminals and terrorists. But in reality, live facial recognition tech has been found to be inaccurate and even racist, with research showing that people from ethnic minorities were 100 times more likely to be misidentified than white individuals.

With this in mind, it can be a good idea to conceal your identity, not just from the far right but from the police. “You could cover your face with an item of clothing or your hands. This is the most effective way to protect yourself from facial recognition,” a spokesperson from Liberty, a UK-based civil liberties advocacy group, explains.

GO TO PROTESTS IN GROUPS AND LEAVE TOGETHER

Stick with friends and tell them your whereabouts, especially if you’re not bringing your phone to protests to conceal your identity. We are not only stronger together but safer, too. 

There is strength in numbers, so it’s important to mobilise collectively to protect mosques, migrant and refugee services and accommodations that racists are targeting. 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

It’s important to memorise the five key messages of any protest: No Comment, No Personal Details, ‘Under What Power?’, No Duty Solicitor, and No Caution. You can read more about each of them here.

The police are not your friends, even if you are on the same side. You may be approached by a police liaison officer in a light blue high-vis jacket at the counter protests as they often mix with protestors to gain information. The best response is always “no comment.” If the police ask you to do something, challenge them to act lawfully by asking, “Under what power?” Do not let your interaction with them become a situation; turn your back or walk away from them as soon as possible. You can find more advice on how to protect yourself from the police on the Green and Black Cross website. Try to memorise their key advice or download their bustcard. 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU’RE ARRESTED

The police can lawfully arrest you if you are about to commit, are committing, or have committed a criminal offence – and what constitutes a criminal offence has broadened in the last year. More information on what constitutes these offences can be found here. 

If you are arrested, the police must tell you that you are being arrested and why you are being arrested. “After being arrested, you must be taken to a police station as soon as possible. When you arrive, the custody officer must also be informed of the reasons for your arrest. This custody officer must review the facts and decide whether it’s necessary to detain you, and then keep the necessity of your detention under ongoing review,” the Liberty spokesperson explains, adding that if you’re under 18 the police must contact your parent or guardian as soon as possible after your arrival at the police station.

“You have the right to tell someone that you’ve been arrested; an interpreter if your first language isn’t English; and an appropriate adult, if you are under 18 or otherwise vulnerable,” the spokesperson continues.

If arrested, you should seek legal advice and representation from a solicitor with expertise in protest law and can contact any of the law firms on Liberty’s protest bust cards. You should not accept a caution, as this is an admission of guilt, and you should answer “no comment” to all questions, including chats with the police, until you have received free legal advice from your solicitor.