Portsmouth protest: Vehicles damaged, officers injured

Official vehicles were damaged and a handful of police officers sustained injuries during a stand-off with masked anti-migration protesters in Portsmouth. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has initiated an investigation into potential assaults and criminal damage following the incident on Sunday night.

Approximately 200 activists, described as black-clad, attempted to prevent migrants being driven away from the city. The force stated that the protesters had left the area by around 4am on Monday. No arrests had been made at the time of the statement, but the investigation aims to identify those responsible for assaults on officers, damage to vehicles, and other criminal offences.

Criticism of disembarkation decision

Portsmouth City Council leader Steve Pitt strongly criticised the decision to bring lifeboats carrying migrants ashore in the city. He claimed the action had "put people at risk" and caused "needless disruption". Mr Pitt stated that the Home Office has "serious questions to answer" regarding the choice of an "unsuitable" location for disembarking the approximately 140 migrants.

The landing site, located on a narrow shingle bank with a single access road, was described by Mr Pitt as a "completely unsuitable location". He added that the council had not been consulted on the decision, which was taken by UK Border Force, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the Home Office. Coaches eventually departed in the early hours of Monday, transporting the migrants for processing, likely at the Manston arrivals centre in Kent.

Footage shared on social media appeared to show protesters following the convoy of coaches after they left Portsmouth, with one caption stating they were "heading towards DOVER". Mr Pitt thanked the emergency services for their professionalism but reiterated that the Home Office's "lack of planning, inconsistent decision-making and ultimately, poor judgment" had put people at risk and that the situation was "avoidable".

Grandfather deflates own dinghy

Amid the scenes, a grandfather, Barry John-Williams, 69, reported that he had to deflate his own dinghy to prevent protesters from taking it. He told the Press Association that some protesters had offered him money for his boat and that he did not know what they intended to do with it. He overheard one protester suggest the migrants might have arrived in his small, 2.7-metre dinghy.

Concerns over wider implications

Donna Jones, Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner, expressed concerns that England's south coast is not adequately prepared for migrant arrivals. She warned that if people traffickers shift routes further west, areas like Portsmouth could face "significant issues" if they are "not set up" for such arrivals. Ms Jones stated her concern that such events should not be repeated.

Officials believe the landing was a one-off event, rather than an indication of new tactics, despite it being one of the longest journeys recorded for a small boat. A Home Office spokesperson condemned the "intimidating and thuggish behaviour" and stated that while peaceful protest is fundamental, it must not "cross a line into disorder". The spokesperson also thanked emergency services and noted a decrease in arrivals since 2020.

The stand-off in Portsmouth followed a similar demonstration at the Port of Dover on Saturday, where masked men blocked road access. Politicians from all parties condemned the Dover scenes, and questions are expected regarding the preparedness of Kent Police. The group behind the Dover protest, Patriot Platform, was founded by far-right campaigner Daniel Thomas.

Kent Police stated that the only criminal offence under investigation from the Dover protest was damage to a road, with Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Brookes noting the protest developed rapidly.