Hundreds of far-right activists gathered in Portsmouth on Sunday evening after a small boat carrying 140 asylum seekers was intercepted heading toward the Hampshire coast. The arrival of the vessel triggered a massive emergency response, with a helicopter, an aeroplane, and lifeboats deployed to the area.
This incident is believed to mark the first time a vessel of this size carrying asylum seekers has been brought to Portsmouth. It is also the first instance of a large group of anti-migrant protesters attempting to physically block newly arrived asylum seekers from being processed. Demonstrators blocked roads for several hours and pledged to remain overnight to prevent the arrivals from being transported to a processing facility.
The demonstration follows a similar road-blocking protest in Dover on Saturday. Many of the demonstrators in Portsmouth wore all-black clothing and face masks or balaclavas, mirroring the attire seen at the Dover rally. The situation grew highly volatile, with one witness reporting that the atmosphere remained extremely tense as coaches meant to transport the asylum seekers were trapped. Protesters smashed the windscreens of two police cars and temporarily broke through a police cordon. Hampshire police subsequently issued a dispersal order and urged the public to avoid the area.
Authorities had planned to transport the boat's occupants to the Manston processing centre near Ramsgate in Kent. However, footage on social media showed crowds surrounding and blocking the coaches designated for the transfer.
The UK government strongly condemned the actions of the demonstrators. A government spokesperson described the scene as "intimidating and thuggish behaviour," adding that while the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to democracy, "it must never cross a line into disorder."
During the event, Daniel Thomas, a far-right influencer also known as Danny Tommo, hosted a livestream from the scene, urging his followers to travel to Portsmouth to bolster the protest. Thomas, a former bodyguard for Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (known as Tommy Robinson), recently founded the Patriot Platform, the group behind Saturday's blockade at the Port of Dover. He previously organized "Operation Overlord," an initiative aimed at sending activists to France to slash abandoned dinghies. French authorities subsequently banned Thomas from entering the country.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirmed they were alerted on Sunday to a small boat heading toward the Hampshire coast. A spokesperson stated that lifeboats, a helicopter, an aeroplane, and rescue teams were dispatched, alongside Border Force, the Border Security Command, Hampshire police, and the South Central Ambulance Service. Most small boat arrivals are typically intercepted by the Border Force and RNLI in the English Channel and brought to Dover.
The consecutive days of protests have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Saturday's rally in Dover, which halted traffic to the UK's busiest international ferry port and delayed services, prompted questions regarding Kent police's preparedness. Similar scrutiny is expected to face Hampshire police on Monday. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds condemned the Dover protests during an appearance on Sky News, stating that while peaceful protest is essential, "that's not dressing up in costumes like this and disrupting people's lives."
Despite the weekend's disruption, the Home Office reported that small boat crossings have decreased by more than 40% compared to the same period last year, marking the lowest July figures since 2020. A Home Office spokesperson stated on Sunday night that the government is restoring control at the border, noting that joint efforts have prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts and led to the seizure of 1,100 boats and engines since the election. However, officials noted that while smuggling networks have faced disruption, their tactics are evolving, with smugglers launching vessels from points much further along the coast, making the Channel crossings significantly more dangerous.
