Portsmouth experienced rival protests on Saturday, drawing hundreds of demonstrators with opposing views on migration. The events unfolded following disorder on September 6, when police intervened at Eastney Marina to manage a situation where hundreds of demonstrators attempted to block coaches carrying 120 migrants who had arrived in the city via a dinghy crossing.
Demonstrations and Counter-Demonstrations
Approximately 500 anti-migrant protesters gathered in the city center, many waving Union and St George flags. Some individuals associated with "Portsmouth Patriot" branded clothing congregated near All Saints Church, chanting "stop the boats" as they marched towards Guidhall Square. Simultaneously, an estimated 300 individuals participated in a counter-protest. Police maintained a separation between the two groups upon their arrival at the square.
Simon Magorian, representing Stand up to Racism Portsmouth, described the earlier events at Eastney Marina as a "horrible spectacle." He stated, "Portsmouth is actually a good functioning multi-cultural city. We are now organising to have the broadest possible opposition to what we see as a fascist street movement and we're not going to allow them to get a grip on Portsmouth or any other town - this is quite terrifying."
Among the anti-migration protesters, Pete Davies, a Portsmouth resident, voiced his perspective, stating, "They should be having them turned back to France again. It's a safe country, there's no war in France. They want to stop the benefits, stop the free housing... they don't give nothing back to the people of the country."
New Police Powers
Authorities implemented special powers aimed at preventing violence, intimidation, and disorder. These measures followed a week of protests in the city. A separate order also granted officers the authority to require individuals to remove masks and any other items used to conceal their identities.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo emphasized on Friday that these powers would apply to all groups attending protests and would be enforced impartially. He clarified, "These powers are not being implemented to prevent protest but they are being used to help prevent crime and disorder, while making communities feel safer."
Previous Incidents and Aftermath
Hampshire Police reported that several of their vehicles, along with those from the coastguard and Border Force, sustained damage during the disruption at Eastney Marina, which continued into the early hours of Monday. A small number of officers received treatment at the scene for injuries, though no attendees were seriously hurt. RNLI volunteers assisting in the migrant operation were also reportedly targeted on social media.
The disorder in Portsmouth occurred subsequent to a separate anti-migrant protest at the Port of Dover the previous day.