EXCLUSIVE: South Yorkshire Police ready for 'heightened tensions' of Brexit
The Chief Constable's been telling us about their plans
South Yorkshire's Chief Constable has exclusively told Hallam the force is planning for "heightened tensions" if the UK leaves the EU next month.
Steven Watson's been telling us about their preparations for Brexit, which is due to happen on 31st October.
There has been speculation about civil unrest around the UK if we leave without a deal and police in Scotland have reportedly set up a special 'Brexit control centre' planning for the worse case scenarios.
South Yorkshire's Chief Constable says some reports have been alarmist and insists the force is not expecting mass disorder. But he says officers have been preparing:
"We have in place operational plans.
"There are a number of uncertainties washing around in the political space at this moment in time and so in some respects it is almost difficult to know what it is that we are planning for. But what might be anticipated, we have made provision for.
"We do not anticipate outbreaks of mass disorder or anything of the sort. But we do recognise that these are times of heightened political and social tensions and concerns and so we'll cater for that."
Britain is due to leave the EU on 31st October and the Prime Minister wants it to happen then whether a deal has been agreed or not.
His political rivals though argue he should seek another extension if there's no withdrawal agreement with the EU.
Leaked government documents suggested there could be shortages of food and medicine in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Stephen Watson says whatever the outcome, the police in South Yorkshire will be ready:
"Practically I think that what the policing response will mean is simply to be a reassuring presence should we have political demonstrations, should we have a forthcoming general election. It's just simply catering for the effective discharge of the democratic process.
"We don't yet as a country know what the exit will look like, when the exit will occur and what form it will take. These things are a little uncertain.
"But we recognise that there are heightened political and social sensitivities around what is a defining issue in our country's life."