Hundreds of protesters blocked streets in the English coastal city of Portsmouth late Sunday in an attempt to stop the arrival of migrants from France, drawing condemnation from British officials. The demonstration followed a similar disruption in Dover on Saturday, where masked individuals chanted "Stop the boats," a slogan referring to asylum seekers crossing the English Channel.
British minister Emma Reynolds called the behavior "thuggish and intimidating." The protests, which appeared to be organized rapidly in response to the arrival of 140 migrants, have raised concerns about their coordination. Reynolds noted that the scale of the protests was unprecedented but stated that police had brought the situation under control. She added that the quick organization was a "concern."
Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for the Portsmouth area, indicated that while the protesters were largely peaceful, the significant size of the gathering necessitated assistance from officers from other regions. Jones also pointed out that Portsmouth and other parts of southern England are not equipped to handle the public order and processing demands associated with illegal arrivals.
The arrival of small boats in Portsmouth signifies a shift from the typical routes, which usually lead to areas further east near Dover. Dover has a large facility for processing migrants.
Successive British governments have faced criticism from opposition parties and anti-migration activists for their handling of asylum seeker numbers. Reynolds, however, stated that arrivals had decreased significantly, with approximately 17,000 migrants arriving between January 1 and September 1, a 43% reduction compared to the same period last year. The protesters were reportedly responding to calls from far-right groups utilizing messaging platforms like Signal and Telegram.