// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Rival protests in Portsmouth as face masks banned
Several hundred anti-migrant protesters were escorted through the city centre
Rival groups of protesters have marched through Portsmouth as police restrictions on the use of masks and balaclavas came into effect.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said on Friday it would use new powers under the Crime and Policing Act to prevent people involved in protest activity from wearing face coverings that conceal their identity.
A large police presence could be seen in the city centre, where anti-migrant protesters assembled, while rival demonstrators holding Stand up to Racism banners began a march shortly afterwards.
The measures came into effect at 10:00 BST. Participants on both sides were not seen to be wearing any face coverings when the marches started.
The two groups both marched to Portsmouth's Guildhall Square
The city centre protests come after disorder on 6 September, when police attended Eastney Marina as hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads in an attempt to stop coaches carrying 120 migrants, who had crossed the Channel in a dinghy, from leaving the city.
Up to 500 anti-migrant protesters held Union and St George flags while some wearing Portsmouth Patriot branded clothing gathered outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road shortly before midday on Saturday.
The crowd chanted "stop the boats" as they marched to Guidhall Square.
Both sets of demonstrators were kept apart by police when they arrived at the square.