Gosport Port Sealed Amid Migrant Boat Protest Tensions

Police in Gosport have sealed off the entire historic naval port with a dispersal order following protests over a migrant boat that arrived from Normandy. Anyone gathering in Hampshire today risks arrest if they do not leave immediately when an officer instructs them to do so. The force also banned face coverings for all demonstrators trying to hide their identity. Last night, six people faced jail after clashes erupted near Haslar Marina where two RNLI lifeboats landed 149 migrants.

This dinghy traveled from Utah Beach in Normandy yesterday morning, marking another attempt at the long route across the Channel instead of the usual trip from Calais to Dover. French rescue ships shadowed the vessel until it entered British waters before meeting the coastguard boats. The migrants are now on coaches heading toward Dover for processing while the RNLI tightens security after anti-immigration groups renewed their criticism.

The charity recently faced an incident where members of the public slipped into a restricted building at its Poole headquarters by tailgating staff. It has submitted an urgent plan to install three access-controlled gates to stop this happening again. Meanwhile, tragedy struck in northern France where two men died and two women suffered severe burns after attempting the crossing from Berck. French officials confirmed the deaths of one man in his 30s and another in his 40s who left the coast overnight.

Crossings continued with photos showing people boarding packed dinghies at Plage d'Ecault near Boulogne while a French official watched on. Protesters began gathering last night after reports said the boat was due to arrive. Toby, a 26-year-old chef from nearby, came down after seeing posts online. He admitted he had not attended previous events but questioned police trust regarding how the landing occurred. The atmosphere stayed mostly calm until flares lit up and scuffles broke out between officers and crowds.

One protester with a megaphone shouted that officers enabled this outcome and cemented destruction for the town. Another young man told police to feel ashamed of their actions. Dave, a local construction worker, urged others to join him in pushing back against enforcement lines. He argued that if everyone participated they could not be stopped but admitted he would get arrested acting alone. He stated he paid taxes all his life only to see benefits go to people who never lived or worked here. Houses built by workers like him often sell immediately to outsiders he can never afford. Another anonymous man warned that calm behavior just leads to arrest.

We have to be aggressive for our own protection. This sentiment drove officers to place nails on the road, a desperate measure taken after one vehicle appeared to drift toward police at a slow speed near the barricade. A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman clarified their position: 'We have deployed officers to the area to support our partners in the event of an emergency at sea, and to facilitate peaceful protest.' They added that ensuring the safety of local communities alongside protesters requires using a variety of police powers.

Under Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, anyone seeking to gather will be directed to a designated area inside Walpole car park, as shown on the map labelled 'Section 14'. This order stands until 4pm on Monday, 5 October. Failure to comply with these conditions is a criminal offence and may result in arrest. Powers under Section 158 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 and Section 60AA under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 are also active in Gosport and Portsmouth, details found on the map labelled 'Section 158 and Section 60AA'. These powers expire at 4pm on Monday, 5 October.

Section 158 prohibits wearing face coverings used to conceal identity during any protest activity. This rule assists in preventing offences, protecting communities, and supporting the lawful exercise of democratic rights by all participants. Dozens of protesters turned out for the demonstration waving 'stop the boats' flags. Clashes erupted between police and demonstrators after illegal migrants arrived on the Hampshire coast via small boat.

Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said she was 'calling on the Home Secretary to ensure Border Force has the capacity and vessels to transfer people on the water to Dover.' She wrote on social media: 'No sites across the southern coastline of Britain should be used as ''landing sites''. We are not equipped and we do not have the resources to keep policing this.' Each protest is costing me £150,000 of taxpayers' money from my police budget which I can ill afford to spend. That means there is less police officer time on the streets of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – urgent action is needed. This has got to stop.

George Madgwick, the leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, said: 'I can not believe the British Government have allowed a boat of illegal migrants to dock in the Home of the Royal Navy here in Portsmouth Harbour, Gosport.' He added: 'This makes me feel physically sick. They wonder why local people are angry.' The latest crossing from Normandy comes just days after a similar operation sparked protesters in the Hampshire town. That dinghy arrived in Dover after spending more than 30 hours at sea.

The 51 people on board had reportedly refused assistance from the French coastguard before British rescue vessels intervened. Six people were arrested and three people subsequently charged for offences including assaults on emergency workers. Departures from further west along the French coast have been relatively unusual in recent years, but there have now been three such crossings in the space of a month. The longer journeys mean boats can spend many hours at sea before reaching British waters, while their eventual landing point can be difficult to predict.

Police are preparing for the possible arrival of another migrant dinghy on the south coast after a small boat was spotted making its way across the English Channel from France. A Government spokesman said: 'The Border Security Command works around the clock to monitor the Channel and protect our border.

We must keep detaining, checking, and processing every small boat arrival." Officials insist on strict controls despite the numbers dropping sharply. Recent data shows fewer people crossing than last year at this same time. The Home Office logged 526 arrivals on September 27 followed by 61 more two days later. Several other days in late September saw zero recorded crossings.

The provisional count for Channel crossings stands at 19,451 this year. That is a drop of 43 percent compared to last year and sits 23 percent below the figures from early 2024. Numbers are falling, yet the danger remains very real.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood admitted the Government lacks control over the border. She spoke openly about horrific crimes committed against asylum seekers trying to reach Britain. Nearly all women attempting passage from northern France face rape during their journey. This is not just a statistic; it is a brutal reality for desperate families seeking safety.

In an interview with The Rest Is Politics podcast, Ms Mahmood explained how criminal gangs decide who arrives in the UK. These same people smugglers also abuse victims on the way over. "You can almost guarantee that every woman that's in the north of France has probably been raped along the journey," she stated plainly. Men suffer too. They have faced severe abuse and constant threats from these ruthless networks.

The current system lets criminals choose who gets sanctuary. That is unacceptable. No one should decide whether a person becomes part of our community based on exploitation. The risk to vulnerable communities grows as long as traffickers hold the power. We need urgent action before more people suffer this fate. Time is running out to stop these gangs and protect those fleeing danger.