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11 December 2010
Last updated at 08:14 ET
The English Defence League (EDL) is carrying out a protest march in the centre of Peterborough.
The group, which is against "radical Islam", started marching at midday. Counter-rallies are being held by the TUC and Unite Against Fascism.
Supt Paul Fullwood, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: "Officers have been briefed and they are now being deployed in and around the city."
The force said an estimated 1,000 protesters were involved.
Officers have been drafted in from other forces, including the Metropolitan Police.
"Today's operation is about facilitating the people's right to peaceful protests while maintaining minimal disruption to the people of Peterborough," he said.
"We will take firm action and prosecute anyone who uses the right to protest as an excuse to break the law."
EDL leader Tommy Robinson said: "Militant Islam is probably at its peak in this country. The problem will get worse and worse unless it's tackled, and that's what the English Defence League is trying to do."
Unite Against Fascism said it and Peterborough TUC had called for a "march for unity" from Bishops Road car park to show local opposition to the "invasion" by the EDL.
"The EDL hope to stir up hatred against the city's Muslim population and the many migrant agricultural workers who travel from across Europe to work on farms during the harvests," a spokesman said.
At 1220 GMT, Supt Fullwood announced on Twitter that there had been two arrests on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon at Peterborough railway station.
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The group, which is against "radical Islam", started marching at midday. Counter-rallies are being held by the TUC and Unite Against Fascism.
Supt Paul Fullwood, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: "Officers have been briefed and they are now being deployed in and around the city."
The force said an estimated 1,000 protesters were involved.
Officers have been drafted in from other forces, including the Metropolitan Police.
"Today's operation is about facilitating the people's right to peaceful protests while maintaining minimal disruption to the people of Peterborough," he said.
"We will take firm action and prosecute anyone who uses the right to protest as an excuse to break the law."
EDL leader Tommy Robinson said: "Militant Islam is probably at its peak in this country. The problem will get worse and worse unless it's tackled, and that's what the English Defence League is trying to do."
Unite Against Fascism said it and Peterborough TUC had called for a "march for unity" from Bishops Road car park to show local opposition to the "invasion" by the EDL.
"The EDL hope to stir up hatred against the city's Muslim population and the many migrant agricultural workers who travel from across Europe to work on farms during the harvests," a spokesman said.
At 1220 GMT, Supt Fullwood announced on Twitter that there had been two arrests on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon at Peterborough railway station.
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