Police prepare for 17 protests due to take place in Greater Sydney over the next week

Police have warned they have ‘no tolerance’ for hate speech or lawbreakers as they prepare to monitor dozens of planned peaceful protests over the weekend.

Police are preparing for more than a dozen protests in Sydney over the next week. Picture: Nine

Police are preparing for more than a dozen public protests in Greater Sydney over the next seven days as protesters are warned to keep the peace.

Their main focus at this stage is a pro-Palestine march through the streets of Sydney expected to draw at least 5000 attendees on Saturday despite Premier Chris Minns’ fears the event could be hijacked by groups using hate speech.

“We aware of at this stage up to 17 protest events not just in the city, not just in the CBD, but other parts of the Sydney metropolitan area and outer areas,” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters on Friday.

“So it is a dynamic situation and we will be dealing with those matters become known to us.”

NSW police say they are preparing for 17 protests in the next week. Picture: Nine

Police confirmed there would be up to 850 officers stationed across the city on Saturday in response to planned protests.

However, Ms Webb wanted to be clear that police were working with community organisers of the protests and would only be focusing their attention on those who wished to “cause to trouble”.

“If there’s anyone that thinks they can join in a protest and cause trouble, we will have no tolerance if they want to play up and break the law, no tolerance for hate speech, no tolerance for intimidation,” she said.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said police would not tolerate hate speech and acts of intimidation at this weekend’s rallies. Picture: Nine

Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon emphasised that their message was “very clear” and keeping the community safe was their main concern.

“We know that there is heightened tension within the community at the moment arising from the conflicts overseas,” he said.

“We are working with leaders right across the community to ensure that not only are the community safe but they feel safe, and we will continue to do that.”

Three people have been charged in relation to offences committed at an otherwise peaceful pro-Palestine rally at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night.

Investigations into the event continue and detectives are looking for a person who was captured in video footage with an illegal flare.