Protesters Block Roads in Portsmouth as 140 Migrants Rescued
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By Simon Jones, Chris Graham, and André Rhoden-Paul (PA Media)
Police officers at the scene of a protest in Eastney Beach, Portsmouth on Sunday.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Portsmouth on Sunday night after around 140 migrants in a single dinghy were rescued in the English Channel. This was the second major anti-migrant protest of the weekend, as police faced off with demonstrators blocking roads to prevent the migrants from leaving the city.
Hampshire Police urged people to avoid the Eastney Landing ferry port area, where the migrants were brought ashore, and stated a dispersal order was in place, meaning non-compliance could lead to arrest.
The government condemned the "intimidating and thuggish behaviour" of the protesters, many of whom were dressed in black and wore masks.
Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East Joe Robertson expressed concern on X, stating, "It's extremely concerning to see an illegal migrant crossing this far west".
Protesters claimed they were trying to stop authorities from transporting the migrants to the Manston processing centre in Kent.
Police protected coaches with riot shields as traffic was blocked by protesters.
Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, an associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson, live-streamed from the scene, stating, "Roads are all blocked, they are never going to be able to leave here".
A government spokesperson said, "The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder". They also thanked emergency services for managing the situation.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X, "This week Andy Burnham struck an agreement for 45 more officers on French beaches. Today a boat launched from Baie de Seine, 170 miles from Calais, arriving on the beaches of Hampshire for the very first time. This is a joke. Only Reform will send the boats back."
The protest followed a demonstration by a large group of masked men over small-boat crossings at the Port of Dover on Saturday, causing significant disruption.
Just days prior, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron met to discuss scaling up efforts to reduce small boat crossings.
In August, a single small boat carrying 230 people successfully crossed the Channel.