Chief Superintendent Alison Rose, divisional commander of Bradford South Police, said she wanted it to be business as usual for traders and shoppers in the city centre tomorrow during the demonstrations.

She said a lot of police officers would be deployed in the city centre to support local traders and business people.

“We don’t want to give the impression that the city is closed,” she insisted.

Chief Supt Rose said that decent, law-abiding people who wanted to come and show their support for the city were welcome.

“We will do everything we can to keep the city safe and to keep businesses running as normal in the centre, and allow people to peacefully protest.

“My ideal scenario is that the English Defence League come into the city, say what they have to say, and leave, and that other protest groups such as UAF do exactly the same, and that law-abiding members of the public feel that they have been able to say what they want to say in a peaceful manner.”

Chief Supt Rose said an important part of the policing operation was the work of neighbourhood policing officers, who would be reassuring members of the public across Bradford.

She added: “The more support people in Bradford can show my officers, the better.”

She said officers would be armed with information to answer any questions the public might have.

“We want to make sure that people coming to the city have the right information about where they wish to go, and what event or protest they want to support. We want to avoid people feeling confused in the city centre.”

Chief Supt Rose said police, and other agencies, had been planning for all eventualities for a long time.

“The number of police officers in this city over the weekend will be very significant. We have a number of options available to us to deal with people. We have substantial specially-trained resources at our disposal with different skills and we will deploy them according to what we face in the city centre.

“I have absolute confidence in the officers working on Saturday. They understand this is much more than a public order event. It is about the city of Bradford and they are committed to that.”

The divisional commander said police whole-heartedly supported the community event due to be held at Infirmary Fields.