Home Office condemns “thuggish" Portsmouth protesters who blocked migrants
Around 200 protesters caused around ten hours of disruption to try to prevent migrants being brought through Portsmouth
The Home Office has condemned “intimidating and thuggish behaviour” in Portsmouth last night after hundreds of protesters blocked around 140 migrants who arrived at Eastney.
Protesters had vowed to prevent migrants who arrived in a small boat being taken to a processing centre in Kent.
They were attempting to block routes away from Eastney and vowed to stay all night. However, this morning The Home Office has told The News that “all of those brought ashore have left the landing site and are being transported for processing in the usual way”.
The dinghy’s arrival sparked a major response as it headed towards the coast, with a helicopter, aeroplane and lifeboats sent to the scene.
Videos circulating on social media showed groups of people being taken on lifeboats to shore near where several coaches were parked.
Around 200 demonstrators joined the protest, with some dressed in all black – similar to those who joined an anti-illegal migrant protest which blocked the Port of Dover on Saturday.
Large crowds blocked traffic along the road leading away from the port, with photos showing police carrying riot shields forming a blockade.
Hampshire Police had urged people to avoid the area, and said a dispersal order was in place. Livestreaming while standing in the sea at Eastney beach, Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo – an associate of ring-wing activist Tommy Robinson – said: “Roads are all blocked, they are never going to be able to leave here.”
A Home Office spokesperson told The News this morning: “We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behaviour we saw in Portsmouth last night.
“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder. We thank the emergency services who safely managed this situation.
“This Government is doing the hard and necessary work of bearing down on small boats crossings, with the lowest number of June to August arrivals since 2020.”
The Home Office said every individual arriving in the UK illegally undergoes stringent security checks and said joint work with the French had prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts since the election. “Our new landmark new deal will further boost enforcement action on French beaches with a 40% increase in personnel, new police units and expanded surveillance and maritime capabilities,” the spokesperson added.
Over 80,000 people in the UK illegally have been removed or returned since the election, a 52% increase. Removals of foreign national offenders, including murderers and rapists, are up by 41%, the government agency added.
The decision to bring the migrants to Portsmouth as been condemned by the local council and police.
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