The police have rejected criticism expressed by a local MLA about how they handled a loyalist protest in Portadown that erupted into violence at the weekend.
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The police operation was criticised for not being robust enough after trouble flared in the early hours of Sunday morning during an illegal rally organised via text messages.
Ten police officers were injured and several cars damaged in what the PSNI described as "vicious public disorder".
"Police were aware that texts were circulating in the area. Police put an operation in place," Superintendent Barbara Gray said.
"Community officers were out on the ground and were backed up by specially trained public order police," she added.
She branded the scenes of violence as "disgraceful".
"Sadly some people chose to attack the police and cause trouble on the streets of their own town.
"We need to be very clear where the blame lies here. It lies with the people who organised this illegal gathering. It lies with the thugs who attacked police."
The PSNI has urged people in positions of civic leadership to ensure that future tensions are defused.
UTV obtained a copy of the text which read: "Due to recent beatings of Protestants, we're asking all loyalists who don't want to be beaten, walked over and treated like scum to gather at 12.45am (...). This is to show republicans we will not tolerate their behaviour or presence in our area. Pass this to all loyalists you know."
On Sunday local SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly branded the violence as "naked bully-boy sectarianism", but admitted she felt the police operation had been "disappointing".
Nationalist and unionist politicians have appealed for calm.
"That's something we would totally condemn and should have never happened", DUP's Robert Smith told UTV.
"This has brought great fear even within the community these people say they represent", he said.
"Portadown is moving on. Let the police ultimately get on with the real job of hunting down republican dissidents."
Officers faced criticism from the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition who questioned their tactics to prevent the crowd from gathering.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a police officer, plus public order offences, while a 31-year-old man has been released on bail pending further police investigations.
© UTV News