Shabana Mahmood urges police to curb far-right, anti-migrant protests

Home secretary tells officers to make ‘full use’ of their powers after masked vigilantes cause weekend of chaos

Shabana Mahmood has urged police to curb the activities of far-right, anti-migrant groups which have “obvious malign intent” after a weekend of chaos caused by balaclava-wearing vigilantes.

In a meeting on Thursday, the home secretary told senior officers to make “full use” of their powers, including bans on face coverings, after police were assaulted and ports were disrupted in Kent and Hampshire.