Historic UK Naval Fort Eyed for Migrant Processing Amid Local Outcry
Plans to use Fort Blockhouse for small boat arrivals, less than a mile from an expanded detention center, spark fears of Gosport becoming a 'migrant capital' and ignite local protests.
Ministers are facing criticism over proposals to convert the 19th-century Fort Blockhouse in Gosport, near Portsmouth, into a processing center for migrants arriving by small boats. The historic naval site is less than a mile from the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), which is set to reopen and expand to accommodate 600 foreign criminals and illegal migrants.
Residents in Gosport fear the town will become the "capital" of the small boat crisis, citing recent violent protests and concerns about the impact on their community. The plans come as smugglers have begun shifting tactics, launching more dangerous, longer sea routes from Normandy toward Hampshire, rather than the traditional Kent coast.
Protests erupted in Gosport earlier this week after an anti-migrant activist announced that small boat migrants were expected to arrive in the town. To avoid the demonstration, Border Force boats rerouted the migrants to Dover, but the Gosport protests led to six arrests, with police escorts required for coaches meant to transport asylum seekers.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative MP for Gosport, has stated that opening a new processing center at Fort Blockhouse would incentivize more illegal migration. She argued that Portsmouth Harbour is an inappropriate disembarkation spot due to a lack of adequate facilities and transport infrastructure, advocating for arrivals to be taken directly to Kent.
Local council leader Cllr Zoe Huggins has also written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to protest the proposal. Huggins pointed out that Fort Blockhouse is located on a peninsula with a single access route, making it vulnerable to protesters blocking departures. She referenced an incident on September 6 where approximately 200 people gathered at Eastney beach to confront 140 migrants brought ashore.
Haslar IRC, which closed a decade ago, is undergoing refurbishment. It is slated to house 600 detained men who will not be permitted to leave the center or access the local area. Residents near the facility have complained about the ongoing construction work. Concerns have been raised by locals, including members of the armed forces, about potential unrest stemming from the increased migrant population and the arrival of counter-protesters.
These developments occur amid a significant increase in Channel crossings. On Wednesday, 781 migrants arrived in the UK, the highest daily figure this year, with an additional 44 arrivals on Thursday. The total number of arrivals since the 2024 general election has surpassed 83,323.
In a separate incident, Daniel Thomas, an activist known as 'Danny Tommo', pleaded not guilty to charges including criminal damage after allegedly slashing a migrant dinghy. He was denied bail, with Tommy Robinson attending court to support him.
A government spokesperson stated that the Border Security Command is working to protect the border and will continue to detain, check, and process all small boat arrivals.