A LARGE police presence was deployed near the Mandir (Hindu temple) in Stoney Stanton Road in Coventry last night ahead of a potential protest.
It follows a protest gathering in Smethwick on Tuesday which resulted in some minor disorder.
West Midlands Police said it always sought to facilitate peaceful protest, upholding the right to protest, while balancing it with the rights of others to keep the public safe, prevent crime and disorder.
However, the force added it would not accept disorder and would seek to act against anyone who attends with the intention to cause trouble, and put the safety of others at risk.
Police said they were aware of ‘fake news’ and ‘misinformation’ being shared on social media and via messaging acts which was all completely untrue.
They included rumours that a shopkeeper in the Dudley area was involved in the protests, prompting him to be racially abused.
The shopkeeper was not involved in the protest, and two people have been arrested for racially aggravated public order offences.
Another rumour was that two young men were attacked in Oldbury during a protest. Officers say they had received no reports of this happening.
A picture of a police officer at a mosque was distributed, implying West Midlands Police was not impartial. Officers say this is not true, and the image was taken at the start of this month during a routine visit by officers in Birmingham.
There were also reports that coaches from other parts of the region were planning to arrive in the West Midlands on Wednesday night to cause problems. This did not happen.
West Midlands Police said it would not tolerate social media being used to commit hate crime offences.
A criminal investigation has been launched and until 6.30am today (Friday, September 23), officers have Section 60 and other powers in place for parts of Sandwell and Coventry.
They enable the police to stop and search people and also to oblige people to remove their masks. Officers can also disperse groups.
