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Hampshire police have made public images of six men they wish to question regarding an anti-migrant protest that occurred in Portsmouth. The disturbance took place on 6 September at Eastney Marina, where a large crowd gathered to block roads aiming to prevent coaches carrying 120 migrants—who had crossed the Channel in a dinghy—from departing the city. The migrants had arrived after a roughly 10-hour journey from near Cherbourg, significantly further west than the more common crossing points near Calais.
During the protest, several vehicles belonging to the police, coastguard, and Border Force were damaged. Seven officers received treatment for injuries sustained at the scene; fortunately, none required serious medical attention. Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson has encouraged anyone who recognizes the six men in the released images to contact the police. He explained that immediate arrests during public order events are often difficult due to the need to thoroughly review evidence to identify those responsible.
The government has publicly condemned the aggressive and intimidating behaviour witnessed during the demonstration, emphasizing that while peaceful protest is permitted, disorderly conduct is unacceptable. A 42-year-old man from Paulsgrove has already been charged with violent disorder and assaulting a police officer and remains in custody. Additionally, a 16-year-old boy was arrested the following day but later released on bail pending further investigation. Rowlinson noted the substantial amount of footage reviewed by officers to support ongoing inquiries, warning that the force’s actions send a clear message against future disruptive attempts.
The migrants involved in this crossing were brought ashore at Eastney Landing in Portsmouth rather than the more typical processing location of Dover. This decision was made partly because redirecting the group to Dover would have extended the journey time and required lifeboats to operate beyond their usual patrol zones. Lifeboats from Bembridge and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight assisted in the operation. Migration experts suggest that smugglers may be testing different routes to avoid the strong police presence commonly found around Calais and Dunkirk. Following the incident, crew members from the RNLI faced backlash, with some protesters sharing their personal information on social media and accusing them of treason
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