A planned English Defence League event is now expected to involve a full march through Nottingham city centre.
The city council says it has been advised by Notts Police that officers are no longer expecting a static demonstration by the far-right group this Saturday.
Instead, the council says, police believe members are planning to march through the city.
The authority has already expressed concern over how the event will be handled and has said it does not want the group in Nottingham.
It has been applying pressure on Notts Police to restrict the gathering or find a way of banning it entirely amid fears it could attract trouble on a day thousands of extra people are expected to visit the city.
But officers told Notts TV News the march does not meet any of the legal requirements needed for an official ban.
Big numbers of visitors are expected at the Riverside Festival at the Victoria Embankment, Nottingham Beach on Old Market Square and at the City Ground for Forest’s first home game of the new Championship season.
But rules on freedom of assembly, enshrined in the Human Rights Act, mean any outright ban on the EDL’s presence is unlikely.
Dave Trimble, the council’s portfolio holder for Leisure and Culture said: “When we originally called on the police to ban the EDL demonstration we were told their powers were limited because it was planned to be an assembly in one single location rather than a march.
“However, the police have since indicated that they now expect the demonstration to take the form of a march.
“Therefore we urge them again in the strongest terms to use whatever powers they have available to stop this demonstration happening. We have major concerns about the risks it could pose to children and families in the city centre, particularly on the Beach and around the Old Market Square, let alone the impact on traffic and on businesses.
“Surely the safety of Nottingham citizens, particularly where young children are involved, has to come first.”
The EDL, although divisive and highly controversial, is a legal organisation and has the same right to protest or march as any other.
However, there are provisions to ban or restrict marches – not static demonstrations – under the 1986 Public Order Act – but only if police can demonstrate there is a risk of “serious public disorder”.
Saturday’s event is expected to be countered by a static peaceful demonstration by Unite Against Fascism – although organisers admitted other people may be planning to confront the EDL.
In 2009 the EDL staged a similar event in Nottingham, which led to clashes between the march, counter protesters and police and 11 arrests.
Chief Superintendent Ian Howick from Nottinghamshire Police said: “Nottinghamshire Police has a legal obligation to both keep the public of Nottinghamshire safe and facilitate peaceful protest.
“The safety of everyone living, working, visiting and travelling in and around Nottingham city centre on the day remains our absolute priority.
“Since being notified of the group’s intentions to demonstrate, we have committed significant resources to ensure that we can meet both obligations and are taking all available steps to minimise the disruption caused to all those affected.
“We have been working closely with a range of affected businesses, community groups and partners – including Nottingham City Council – and have carried out a full review of all available legal powers with the necessary conditions in place to both facilitate peaceful protest and keep local people safe.
“Having reviewed all available information, intelligence and human rights obligations, the specific conditions required to prevent a planned procession from taking place have not been met. However, the situation remains under constant review and, should this change, we have the necessary legislation in place to continue to keep Nottinghamshire safe.”
Organised through Facebook, the EDL ‘national demonstration’ does not yet have an exact location beyond ‘Nottingham’ but is scheduled to start at 1.30pm. More than 150 people have said they will attend.
Notts TV News has contacted the group to ask for further details about the demonstration, but has not received a response.
