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Kent Police has acknowledged that it was informed of the potential for protests in Dover the day before they occurred, but the information provided was not thoroughly evaluated. On Saturday, a sizable group of demonstrators dressed in black and wearing balaclavas blocked access to the Port of Dover for several hours, with onlookers hearing chants of “stop the boats.”
Initially, Kent Police stated they had no prior knowledge of the protest, leading to criticisms about intelligence failures. However, a subsequent review revealed that the force had received non-emergency information late on Friday indicating a protest might take place the next day. This information was not fully considered, which may have affected planning and allocation of resources. The Home Office has chosen not to comment on the situation.
A police spokesperson explained that the organizers of Saturday’s demonstration used a different tactic compared to previous events. The force is examining its decision-making processes to identify lessons and enhance preparedness for similar future incidents. They also emphasized that while the information was received, it would not have prevented the lawful protest or the disruptions that ensued for the town, port, and wider community.
Dover District Council’s deputy leader, Edward Biggs, criticized Kent Police’s statement as “very worrying” and “really poor,” expressing disappointment in the lack of communication. Kent Police have since called on the College of Policing to conduct an independent review of their procedures. Matthew Scott, Kent’s police and crime commissioner, supports this investigation and has requested it focus on how intelligence is prioritized and the communication strategy deployed during the event. He stressed the importance of learning from what happened while also commending the officers and staff on the ground for their efforts to minimize disruption
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