Migrant arrivals spark clashes in Portsmouth

Anti-migration protesters clashed with police and blocked roads in Portsmouth on Sunday night after approximately 625 people arrived in the UK across eight boats. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed on Monday that official vehicles were damaged and a number of police officers sustained injuries during the stand-off.

Protesters block roads

Around 200 activists, some wearing black clothing and balaclavas, attempted to prevent migrants being driven away from the city. The protesters left Portsmouth at approximately 4am on Monday. The force has launched an investigation into potential assaults and criminal damage.

Daniel Thomas, who claims to have organised a protest in Dover on Saturday, confronted Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf at the arrival site. Mr Thomas told Mr Yusuf that his party leader, Nigel Farage, needed to "be careful with his words" and accused him of calling protesters "knuckle-draggers" earlier in the year. Mr Yusuf responded by telling Mr Thomas to ensure there was no violence from his group towards the police, stating there is "never any excuse for violence against police officers".

Council criticises disembarkation site

Portsmouth City Council leader Steve Pitt heavily criticised the decision to bring lifeboats carrying migrants ashore in Portsmouth. Mr Pitt stated that the chosen location, a narrow shingle bank with only one road access, had "put people at risk" and caused "needless disruption". He added that the Home Office has "serious questions to answer" regarding the choice of an "unsuitable" disembarkation point.

The council was not consulted on the decision to allow the lifeboats to land in the city. Coaches carrying the migrants were able to depart in the early hours of Monday, taking all those brought ashore to a processing location.

Footage shared on social media appeared to show protesters following the convoy of coaches along a motorway after they had left Portsmouth. One video was captioned: "In pursuit of migrant coaches from Portsmouth NOW!! We are heading towards DOVER."

Further incidents

Separately, a 69-year-old man reported that protesters had attempted to take his dinghy on Sunday night, with some offering him money to use the vessel. Barry John-Williams stated he had to deflate his own dinghy to prevent it from being taken. He described the protesters as "idiots" and suggested they believed migrants might have arrived in his small boat.

Mr Farage, speaking on Monday, differentiated between the masked protesters in Dover and "little old ladies in Portsmouth", stating that while the country was "on the edge of serious civil disturbance", people wearing masks and paramilitary-style uniforms would not solve the problem. He added that the only way to resolve the issue was "through the ballot box".

The arrival of migrants in Hampshire is considered a rare occurrence, with officials believing it to be a one-off rather than an indication of new tactics.