Police publish routes for marchers and counter protestors at Raise The Colours event in Sheffield
The protest route mirrors what was imposed on a UKIP march in November, but counter protestors will this time remain in one place
The imposed routes for an anti-immigrant protest march and counter-protest in Sheffield this weekend have been published by police.
A branch of the ‘Raise The Colours’ movement is holding a demonstration leading from the Peace Gardens to the Holiday Inn Express on Blonk Street on Saturday, June 13, from 12pm.
It mirrors an anti-immigration march by UKIP from Tudor Square to the same hotel in November 2025.
The hotel is reportedly used to house migrants.
In response, a counter-protest by pro-immigrant group Sheffield Communities Against Racism & Fascism (SCARF) has been announced for 11am on the same day.
South Yorkshire Police has now published the imposed routes and gathering points for both groups under the Public Order Act.
Incidentally, a march by the Orgreave Truth & Justice Campaign from Barkers Pool to Devonshire Green is organised on the same day.
What has South Yorkshire Police said about the requirements?
Today (June 9), South Yorkshire Police published the march route protestors will be required to take as well as the designated areas for counter-protestors, citing the Public Order Act 1986.
The force said in a statement: “We are aware of planned protests taking place in Sheffield city centre on Saturday, June 13.
“The Raise the Colours group is planning to gather at the Peace Gardens at 12pm that day and hold a procession to Blonk Street.
“While there has been no direct engagement with police so far, we believe a counter-protest group is expected to gather at Tudor Square at 11am.
“We are in contact with representatives from Raise The Colours, partners and local communities, and a policing operation is in place around the protests to maintain public safety and provide reassurance to the public.
“As with all planned protests, our role will be to balance the rights of those who wish to protest with those who may be impacted by it.
“While a protest may remain peaceful and non-violent, on occasion some protestors and counter-protestors may commit criminal acts. Our officers will aim to prevent crime and disorder and where it does occur, we will provide an effective, lawful and proportionate response.
“Legal conditions will be in place this Saturday in Sheffield city centre to ensure public safety under Sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. These conditions impose certain limitations on the protesting groups to help us maintain public safety.
“If you experience any threatening behaviour or become concerned for your safety, please contact us on 101, or call 999 in an emergency.”
Where will the Raise The Colours protest march meet and what route will it take?
The route imposed on the Raise The Colours march states those taking part must not assemble at their meeting point, the Peace Gardens, before 12pm. They must also leave the location between 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
The procession from the Peace Gardens to Blonk Street will be along Fargate, High Street, Angel Street, Castle Street, Waingate and Lady’s Bridge.
The group must not arrive at Blonk Street before 2.30pm, and must leave Blonk Street by 4pm.
Where will the counter-protest against the Raise The Colours march meet?
Unlike the counter protest against UKIP in November which saw a march from Sheffield Cathedral to Lady’s Bridge, the rally by SCARF will this time remain in one location.
Conditions in place for the counter-protest group state that they must not arrive at their assembly point, Tudor Square, before 11am and must leave this location by 4pm.
It comes after a heated moment in the November march when a group of counter protestors broke from their designated areas and intercepted the UKIP march as it travelled down Angel Street.
Footage captured on the day showed how this prompted dozens of officers to run ahead of the march and bundle the counter protestors away as the two groups jeered at one another.
The police claim the counter protest has not formally made contact with SYP, and have not notified the force of plans to march.
Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign march
June 13 is also the day of the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign march for the 42nd anniversary of the Battle of Orgreave.
The march from Barkers Pool to Devonshire Green will gather at 12.30pm and move at 1pm.
South Yorkshire Police stated that the Public Order Act conditions against the two protest groups are not imposed on the Orgreave march.
A spokesperson said: “We are also in contact with representatives for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, who are planning an assembly at Barkers Pool and a procession towards Devonshire Green on the same day. This event is unrelated to the planned protests above and does not fall under the conditions outlined.
“We would encourage anyone with concerns on the day of the protests to please speak to our uniformed officers while they are in the area as they are there to help and support all our communities.”