Hundreds of protesters gathered in Portsmouth on Sunday night after 140 migrants in a single dinghy were rescued in the English Channel.
BBC reports that in the second major anti-migrant protest of the weekend, police faced off with demonstrators as they blocked roads in an effort to stop the people who had arrived on the small boat from leaving the city.
Hampshire Police urged people to avoid the Eastney Landing ferry port area, where the migrants were brought ashore. They said a dispersal order was in place, meaning anyone failing to comply could be arrested.
The government condemned “the intimidating and thuggish behaviour” of the protesters, many of whom were dressed in black dresses and wore masks.
Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East Joe Robertson said on social media it was “extremely concerning to see an illegal migrant crossing this far west”.
Protesters said they were trying to stop the authorities transporting the migrants to the Manston processing centre in Kent.
Police with riot shields protected several coaches parked on a road leading away from Eastney Marina as protesters blocked traffic.
Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo – an associate of far-right activist Tommy Rebinson – was livestreaming from the scene.
“Roads are all blocked, they are never going to be able to leave here,” he said.
A government spokesperson said: “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on social media: “This week Andy Burnham struck an agreement for 45 more officers on French beaches. Today a boat launched from Baie de Seine, 170 miles from Calais, arriving on the beaches of Hampshire for the very first time. This is a koke. Only Reform will send the boats back.”
Kevin Mills, who leads Dover District Council, told the BBC that demonstrators “caught several agencies on the hoof” when they arrived Saturday.
