Protesters wearing face coverings in Portsmouth this weekend could be arrested, it has been announced.
Hampshire Police said it will use the new tactic under the Crime and Policing Act to “allow peaceful protest and prevent violence”.
Groups from South Coast Patriots have called for a peaceful march in Portsmouth city centre on Saturday afternoon, while Stand up to Racism will host a counter protest march.
Anyone in the designated area wearing a face covering will be committing an offence and could be arrested for concealing their identity under Section 158 of the Crime and Policing Act, the force said.
A Section 60AA order will also be in place, giving police officers the power to make protesters remove masks, face coverings, or any other items being used to conceal their identity.
Any failure to comply can result in an arrest.
The policing powers will be in force in Portsmouth from 9am on Saturday to 9am on Sunday.
The announcement comes after a 42-year-old man was the first to be arrested in connection with the anti-migrant protests in Portsmouth last weekend.
The man, from Paulsgrove, Hants, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty, Hampshire Police said on Friday.
He remains in custody.
Police said the man was the first of “several anticipated arrests” after a huge crowd protested the arrival of about 140 migrants in Portsmouth.
The migrants, who had been heading towards the Hampshire coast on a small boat, were intercepted and brought ashore.
They were then taken to Manston immigration centre in Kent for processing.
Demonstrators blocked roads for hours on Sunday and vowed to stay all night in the second major anti-migrant protest of the weekend.
Video footage showed protesters facing up to police and shouting “stop the boats” on Sunday evening.
Some official vehicles were damaged and a small number of police officers were injured at the scene, Hampshire Police said.
Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson said: “We have been consistently clear that violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest and we will investigate incidents like this thoroughly and take robust action against those responsible.
“Clearly events on Sunday evening were not peaceful protest, rather violent public disorder, and this will not be tolerated as we work to keep our wider communities in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight safe.”
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