Three arrests at rival protests in Portsmouth
Several hundred anti-migrant protesters were escorted through the city centre by police.
By Stephen Stafford, South of England and Curtis Lancaster, Portsmouth
Published 12 September 2026, 15:04 BST
Updated 2 minutes ago
Three people have been arrested during rival protests in Portsmouth, including a 76-year-old man suspected of concealing his identity despite a ban on face coverings.
Police were present as anti-migrant protesters assembled and Stand Up To Racism demonstrators marched shortly afterwards.
Hampshire Police stated on Friday that they would utilize new powers under the Crime and Policing Act to prevent protesters from wearing face coverings that conceal their identity.
A 33-year-old Portsmouth man was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway, while a 16-year-old boy was taken into custody on suspicion of violent disorder linked to a similar protest at Eastney Marina on Sunday.
These new powers became effective at 10:00 BST. Participants on both sides were not observed wearing any face coverings when the marches commenced.
The city centre protests followed disorder on 6 September, when police attended Eastney Marina as hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads in an attempt to halt coaches carrying 120 migrants, who had crossed the Channel in a dinghy, from leaving the city.
On Saturday, up to 500 anti-migrant protesters held Union and St George flags while some wearing Portsmouth Patriot branded clothing gathered outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road shortly before midday.
The crowd chanted "stop the boats" as they marched to Guildhall Square, joined by approximately 300 counter-protesters. Both groups were kept apart by police upon their arrival at the square.
Speaking prior to the march, Simon Magorian, of Stand Up To Racism Portsmouth, characterized the demonstrations in Eastney as a "horrible spectacle". He stated: "Portsmouth is actually a good functioning multi-cultural city."
He further expressed: "We are now organizing to have the broadest possible opposition to what we see as a fascist street movement and we're not going to allow them to get a grip on Portsmouth or any other town - this is quite terrifying."
Among the anti-migration protesters, Pete Davies, from Portsmouth, also participated in the demonstrations at Eastney. He voiced his opinion: "They should be having them turned back to France again. It's a safe country, there's no war in France. They want to stop the benefits, stop the free housing... they don't give nothing back to the people of the country."
Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones commented: "I'm pleased that today's protests in Portsmouth took place without major issue." She thanked officers for their work and their impartial use of the power to ask people to remove face coverings.
Officers earlier clarified that these powers were aimed at preventing violence, intimidation, and disorder following recent protests in the city.
A separate order also empowered officers to require individuals to remove masks and other items used to conceal their identity.