Police in Hampshire have announced strict measures targeting the use of masks and balaclavas during a planned demonstration in Portsmouth. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed it will exercise new authorities granted under the Crime and Policing Act to stop individuals involved in protest activities from concealing their identities.
These restrictions are set to be enforced across specific areas of the city from 10:00 BST on Saturday through Sunday morning. Law enforcement officials warned that anyone found violating these rules could face arrest. Officers stated that the intervention is designed to prevent violence, intimidation, and disorder, following a series of turbulent protests in the area over the last week.
The decision follows incidents involving masked demonstrators during anti-migrant rallies in both Dover and Portsmouth over the previous weekend. Additionally, a separate directive will empower officers to compel individuals to remove masks or any other items used to hide their faces.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo emphasized that the powers would be applied impartially to all groups attending the protest. He clarified that the objective is not to suppress peaceful assembly, but rather to mitigate crime and disorder while enhancing community safety.
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Security operations intensified on Sunday evening when hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads at Eastney Marina, attempting to prevent coaches carrying 120 migrants from departing the city. The migrants had arrived in the UK via dinghy after crossing the Channel. Police responded after reports that vehicles belonging to the police, coastguard, and Border Force were damaged during the disruption, which persisted until the early hours of Monday.
Del Leon Somerville, a 42-year-old man from Paulsgrove, has been charged with violent disorder and assaulting a police officer. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Saturday. Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson described this as the first in a series of expected arrests connected to the ongoing investigation.
Rowlinson condemned the events at Eastney Marina as violent public disorder rather than peaceful protest, asserting that such behavior would not be tolerated. He also warned against online abuse directed at police and partner agencies, noting that RNLI volunteers had previously been targeted on social media. The force pledged to collaborate with colleagues across policing to address these digital threats and pursue prosecutions where feasible.
Nice to see proper accountability. Good on the police for not backing down after the coach damage.
Wait, so you can be forced to remove a mask on threat of arrest? That seems like a pretty severe power grab.
Is this really about safety though? Feels like they are just targeting one specific type of group again.
Glad someone is taking these riots seriously. Keeping faces uncovered is only fair if you want to protest peacefully.