Anti-Migrant Protesters Clash With Police Following Small Boat Arrivals

Anti-migrant protesters clashed with police after approximately 149 migrants arrived on the Hampshire coast via small boat, using a route perceived as an attempt to evade detection. The large dinghy was spotted heading toward Britain from near Utah Beach in Normandy on Sunday morning and was reportedly shadowed by French coastguard vessels.

Arrival and Protest

Migrants were transported to shore aboard two RNLI boats late Sunday evening, arriving near Haslar Marina in Gosport. Protesters gathered at the location, with reports of flares being set off and scuffles with police. Demonstrators were heard shouting slogans such as 'send them back' and 'you're not welcome.' Approximately 300 protesters were present, some waving flags with messages like 'stop the boats.'

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary deployed officers to Gosport to support partners in the event of an emergency at sea. Ambulances and coaches were also observed in the area. The force implemented conditions under the Public Order Act and powers prohibiting the wearing of face coverings.

A Government spokesman stated that the Border Security Command operates around the clock to protect the border and has contingency plans for securely disembarking, checking, and processing all small boat arrivals. Migrants are to be transported to short-term holding facilities in Kent for processing, including health, security, and biometric checks.

Reform UK Hampshire councillor George Madgwick posted images suggesting police and coaches were in the Fareham area in anticipation of a local small boat landing. This incident follows a similar event in Gosport days earlier, where hundreds of protesters gathered over a reported migrant boat arrival.

Recent Crossings and Statistics

The dinghy that arrived from Normandy in the recent incident had reportedly traveled for over 30 hours and its occupants had allegedly refused assistance from French coastguard before British rescue vessels intervened. The previous incident in Gosport led to six arrests, with three individuals subsequently charged with offenses including assaults on emergency workers.

Departures from further west along the French coast have been less common historically, but three such crossings have occurred within the past month. These longer journeys mean boats can be at sea for extended periods, making their final landing points unpredictable.

Official figures indicate that the number of small boat arrivals is significantly lower compared to the same period last year. The Home Office recorded 526 arrivals on September 27 and 61 on September 29, with no arrivals on several other days in late September. The provisional total for Channel crossings this year stands at 19,451, a decrease of 43 percent from the previous year and 23 percent below the figure at the same stage in 2024.

The Border Security Command's annual report noted a decline in small boat crossings but highlighted them as a 'persistent and adaptive threat,' warning that organized crime groups might alter tactics to increase journeys during favorable conditions. The government continues to collaborate with France to prevent departures, with French authorities reporting hundreds of stopped crossing attempts under bilateral arrangements.