A 76-year-old man has been charged with concealing his identity at an anti-immigration protest in Portsmouth, England, after police warned they would use powers to arrest demonstrators wearing face coverings. Timothy Miller, of Southampton, is accused of wearing or using an item to conceal his identity at a protest, according to Hampshire Police. He was seen wearing female Islamic dress at the demonstration.
Miller is expected to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Monday. The charge comes after anti-migrant and anti-racism protesters confronted each other in the city center on Saturday.
Police had previously used powers under the Crime and Policing Act to restrict face coverings. This action followed anti-immigration protests that featured masked individuals in Portsmouth and Dover the previous weekend.
On Saturday, two men and a teenage boy were arrested after hundreds of anti-immigration protesters gathered in Portsmouth. One 33-year-old man has since been charged with wilful obstruction of a highway and attempted criminal damage. A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and has since been released on bail.
Reports indicate Miller was allegedly protesting the ban on face coverings by wearing one styled as a niqab, a traditional Islamic dress. He reportedly stated that he was considering joining the Islamic faith and felt happier wearing the attire that day, questioning how anyone could stop someone from covering their faces. Miller also expressed concerns about immigration, stating that while he understood immigrants' perspectives, he believed "war" was coming to the streets and that politicians were not protecting the country.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that Timothy Justin Miller, 76, of Sherwood Avenue in Hedge End, Southampton, was charged with wearing or using an item to conceal his identity at a protest. David Kenny McNally, 33, of Winchester Road in Portsmouth, was charged with wilful obstruction of a highway and attempted criminal damage and is due to appear in court on October 29. The 16-year-old male from Waterlooville was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and released on bail until December 12.