Senior police have described a “turning point” in the disorder seen across England in the past week, suggesting swift sentencing and a major public order operation acted as deterrents to far right-led agitators.

Thousands of anti-racist demonstrators gathered on Wednesday evening and created human shields to protect asylum centres, dwarfing a handful of anti-immigrant rallies.

But in a sign that unrest may continue, 5,000 public order officers will be on duty or on standby this weekend amid evidence of renewed plans by far-right activists to mobilise in cities across England and Wales.

“There are many potential events still being advertised and circulated online and those intent on violence and destruction have not gone away,” said Gavin Stephens, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

Stephens cited a range of factors for his belief that a “turning point” had been reached after a week of violence following the killing of three girls in the seaside town of Southport on Monday last week.

These included a significant police presence and the deterrent impact of offenders being sentenced in days for their part in the riots, peer pressure from families, friends and work groups, and “the disruption” of some online messaging.

While admitting that he had been “nervous” about the prospect of thousands of counter-demonstrators taking to the streets because it added to “the scale” of what police would have to deal with, Stephens also praised what he described as the stand taken by communities.