Police are continuing to assess the possible risks of a proposed march by the English Defence League in Bradford amid calls for a ban.

And they have moved to reassure the public that whatever eventually happens on the day they will be able to “manage and control it”.

Separate protests are being planned in the city centre on Saturday, August 28, by the EDL and Unite Against Fascism.

A campaign against the EDL rally has been started by groups under the Bradford Together banner and is backed by politicians in the city, business and faith leaders, academics, members of the public and the Telegraph & Argus’s Back the Ban campaign. So far, more than 7,000 people have signed the Bradford Together petition.

Superintendent Steve Cotter, of Bradford South Police, said: “We have a duty to work towards allowing peaceful protests in Bradford if at all possible – that is our first port of call – and that would be the same with any group.

“We assess what risks there are to any sections of the community in Bradford and if we identify a serious risk of public disorder, the Chief Constable is under a duty to ask the Council to go for a ban.

“That can happen any time up to the actual event.

“At present, there are ongoing assessments and we are engaged, along with the Council, with a range of other organisations to help inform that assessment.

“It would, therefore, be inappropriate for the police to comment on the subject of a ban.

“It is important to point out that even if any march is banned, it is still possible that members of various groups would try to stage static protests.”

Bradford South Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Alison Rose, said that whatever happens on the day she wanted to see “business as usual” in the city centre, with minimum disruption to the public “Continuing with the normal civic life of Bradford is a key part of our engagement and reassurance strategy,” she said.

“Whatever happens in terms of protest, we will manage it and control it. City life has to go on.

“If people come here to peacefully protest, we want them to do that and leave our city again. What we don’t want is people deliberately coming into the city centre without a genuine motive for doing so.”

She said there would be no problem managing police resources on the day.

“I want to give people the confidence of knowing that we will tackle whatever we are faced with on that weekend. We need to reassure people that whatever happens, we will deal with it.

“The people of Bradford have a big role to play. They need to use their common sense. My request would be that the people of Bradford think very carefully about the need to keep calm and keep the city peaceful throughout that weekend.”

Chief Supt Rose said police had an open line of communication with the leadership of both the EDL and UAF.

She added: “It is very important that we continue to speak with them in order to make sure that we reduce the risk of large-scale protest, and to make sure that we police any protest in the best possible way in order to protect both the protesters and members of the public.”