South Coast Unprepared for Migrant Arrivals, Warns Police Chief

The south coast of England is not prepared for migrant arrivals, and the government faces a significant challenge if people smugglers shift their routes away from Dover, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has warned. Ms Jones stated that areas like Portsmouth are not equipped to handle such arrivals.

Her comments follow overnight protests in Portsmouth after approximately 140 migrants arrived in the area. Images showed masked demonstrators blocking the road leading from the RNLI Portsmouth Lifeboat Station at Eastney Marina. Police, some with riot shields, formed a line to protect coaches that had transported the migrants.

Concerns Over Shifting Routes

Ms Jones expressed concern that such events could be repeated. She told the BBC's Today programme that if Dover ceases to be the primary destination, and arrivals spread across southern England, it presents a considerable issue for the government. The migrants brought ashore in Portsmouth were taken for processing, understood to be at the Manston arrivals and processing centre in Kent.

The dinghy carrying the migrants is believed to have undertaken one of the longest journeys for a small boat crossing, with landings as far west as Hampshire being rare. Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, described the crossing as "extremely concerning" and stated he would contact the Home Office to understand if new routes were being utilised.

Protestors' Stance and Official Response

Protesters at the Portsmouth landing site stated their intention to prevent authorities from moving the migrants. Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, livestreamed from Eastney beach, saying roads were blocked and the migrants would be unable to leave. He referenced previous protests in Dover, stating, "This has to come to an end now."

A Home Office spokesperson condemned the behaviour in Portsmouth, calling it "intimidating and thuggish." They added that while peaceful protest is fundamental, it must not descend into disorder, and thanked emergency services for managing the situation. The spokesperson noted that the government is working to reduce small boat crossings, with arrivals between June and August being the lowest since 2020.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed that HM Coastguard, Border Force, Hampshire Police, and other services responded to a report of a small boat heading towards the Hampshire coast on September 6. Separately, large crowds of masked men in black clothing blocked road access to the Port of Dover on Saturday, causing delays to ferry services and blocking major roads. No arrests were made during the Dover demonstrations.