Three individuals were taken into custody by Hampshire Police as competing demonstrations unfolded in Portsmouth on Saturday, marking the latest incident in a week of civil unrest. Among those arrested was a 76-year-old man suspected of concealing his identity, alongside a 33-year-old local resident and a 16-year-old boy.
The arrests occurred as new powers under the Crime and Policing Act came into effect at 10:00 BST, authorizing officers to require the removal of face coverings designed to hide a protester’s identity. Authorities reported that participants on both sides of the demonstration complied with the regulations and were not seen wearing masks when the marches commenced.
The anti-migration group, numbering approximately 500 people, gathered outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road shortly before midday. Carrying Union and St George flags, and some wearing clothing branded with “Portsmouth Patriot,” the crowd chanted slogans demanding an end to Channel crossings before marching toward Guildhall Square.
Approximately 300 counter-protesters from Stand Up To Racism Portsmouth joined them at the square. Police forces maintained a barrier between the two groups to prevent physical confrontation.
Simon Magorian, a representative of Stand Up To Racism Portsmouth, condemned the anti-migration rally, describing scenes from a previous protest at Eastney Marina as a “horrible spectacle.” He characterized Portsmouth as a functional multicultural city and urged broad opposition to what he termed a “fascist street movement,” adding, “We are not going to allow them to get a grip on Portsmouth or any other town – this is quite terrifying.
Among the anti-migration demonstrators, Pete Davies stated that migrants should be returned to France, arguing it is a safe country without active conflict. He criticized the system for providing benefits and housing to newcomers without reciprocity to local residents.
The Saturday protests followed significant disorder on 6 September, when hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads at Eastney Marina in an attempt to prevent coaches carrying 120 migrants from departing. That weekend’s events resulted in criminal damage to vehicles belonging to police, the coastguard, and Border Force, as well as assaults on officers. No serious injuries were reported, though several officers required treatment at the scene.
Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones expressed relief that the current events proceeded without major incident. She thanked officers for their impartial enforcement of the new powers, noting the absence of the violence and property damage seen previously.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo emphasized that the powers were intended to prevent crime and disorder rather than suppress protest. “It is important to stress that this power will apply to any groups that attend the protest and will be enforced equally and impartially,” he said.
The unrest in Portsmouth mirrors similar tensions elsewhere in the UK. Staffordshire Police recently imposed a ban on face coverings for a planned Britain First protest in Tamworth, while Northumbria Police enforced comparable restrictions in Newcastle. Additionally, RNLI volunteers involved in migrant rescue operations have faced targeted harassment on social media following the recent disruptions.
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