POLICE are preparing for potential protests and disorder if Britain leaves the EU without a deal next week.

More than 10,000 riot police officers are being put on stand-by to deal with potential riots, looting and disorder across the country, according to the The National Police Chiefs’ Council.

At least 15 regional forces have put restrictions on leave in preparation for Brexit which will go ahead on April 12 unless the Government agrees another extension with EU leaders.

Thames Valley Police spokesman James Williams confirmed the force were preparing for a no-deal scenario but stressed there was no intelligence to suggest a rise in crime is coming.

He said: "We are working with partners at a local, regional and national level.

"Thames Valley Police is also preparing for the operational impact of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit, to ensure that we are, as ever, ready to respond to emergencies for the safety of the public.

"We have no intelligence to suggest a rise in crime or disorder at this time and are keeping this under continual review."

Crisis managers for Oxfordshire have previously down-played the risks Brexit poses to public order in the county.

In January, the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum, which helps in emergency situations across the region, said it was not anticipating trouble across Oxfordshire.

It is thought that areas with major ports such as Kent and Southampton are most likely to experience disorder if confusion over customs arrangements causes disruption on the borders.

But figures have already shown that the number of hate crimes in Oxford has gone up since the referendum in June 2016.

Last year, racially or religiously aggravated crimes reported to police went up by more than 40 per cent.

Police have urged anyone who is a victim of hate crime to report all incidents.

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All MPs have also been contacted to ensure they have 'appropriate, proportionate and effective' security advice and security arrangements.