Home Office Defends Stance on Channel Migrant Landings Amid Local Protests

The Home Office has declined to exclude the possibility of further Channel migrant landings in Gosport or Portsmouth, despite significant local opposition and protests. This stance comes after dinghies have crossed from Normandy three times in the last six weeks, resulting in migrants being brought ashore in Hampshire on two occasions.

Hampshire Police have incurred an estimated £800,000 in policing costs associated with managing the unrest and protests. In response, Gosport Borough Council passed a motion urging the town to be excluded from future disembarkations. However, the Home Office has not provided assurances, raising concerns about potential renewed local backlash.

A spokesperson for the Home Office stated that there are currently no plans to process migrants at Fort Blockhouse, a former military site in Gosport. Instead, all arrivals will be transported to the main processing center at Manston, near Dover, for security, identification, and health checks. The spokesperson confirmed that contingency plans are in place for dealing with small boat arrivals in Hampshire but declined to provide further details on operational procedures.

The Home Office indicated that efforts would be made to engage with local authorities and operational partners in advance of any landings, where circumstances allow. They emphasized that the Border Security Command is actively working to protect the border and process all small boat arrivals.

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has formally communicated her concerns to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood regarding the financial burden of policing these events and has requested assurances that landings in the area will not become routine. Jones has also sought information on discussions between the Home Secretary and her French counterpart, particularly concerning potential additional French resources to prevent crossings from Normandy.

Jones highlighted the significant impact on policing, noting that officers have faced abuse and assault during these deployments. She has formally requested full reimbursement from the Home Office for the £800,000 already spent and for a commitment to cover all future deployments related to small boat crossings and associated protests. She also reiterated her call for the government to prevent Hampshire coast landings from becoming a regular occurrence and to include her in relevant discussions.

Several individuals have already received sentences for their involvement in the unrest. Del Somerville, 42, was sentenced to two years in prison for violent disorder, while Deano Ryan, 22, and Justin Dixon, 50, received suspended sentences for the same charge. Shannon Dodds, 32, and Sally Pearson, 31, were handed suspended sentences after admitting to assaulting police officers.

Gosport is also home to the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre, which is undergoing expansion to accommodate 600 beds. The Home Office is proceeding with plans to reopen and expand the facility despite local opposition. Seven job vacancies have been advertised for the center, with roles involving direct work with detained migrants, including case updates and welfare monitoring. This development represents a significant step towards the reopening of the former detention center, which closed in 2015. The initial phase of the expansion will accommodate 130 detainees, with a subsequent phase increasing capacity to 600 across three-story accommodation blocks. The Home Office describes the available positions as rewarding opportunities to support individuals during a challenging period.