Disruption at Port of Dover as masked men hold protest

The Port of Dover experienced significant disruption on Saturday due to a large group of masked protesters holding a demonstration. Hundreds of individuals, dressed in black and wearing face coverings, blocked roads and chanted "stop the boats". Kent Police engaged with the protesters and eventually marched them to Dover Priory railway station around 11:30 BST.

Traffic initially halted entering and exiting the port but later resumed as approach roads became clear. Reform UK councillor Paul King identified the protest as a "stop the boats protest", while the government condemned the behavior and travel disruption it caused. Demonstrators declined to speak with the media, although some protesters expressed a desire to send migrants "back" and another called for the halt of "boats".

Dover and Deal MP Mike Tapp described the incident as causing "absolutely awful disruption" for residents, noting that many individuals had traveled to the area in black clothing and balaclavas to block roads leading to the port. Kent Police has yet to identify the organizers of the protest. Ferry operators P&O and DFDS ensured passengers were transported to their next available sailings.

The Port of Dover confirmed that operations had returned to normal and routes had reopened. Remco van Schellen, who arrived from the Netherlands, and Lania Tkaczyk, from Cheshire, both reported being unable to leave and see their children participate in a Channel swimming relay due to the protest. Chris Vinson, leader of the Conservative group on Dover District Council, stated that the protest appeared to be "illegal migration-related" but lacked visible placards or banners.

Night shift workers at the port were prevented from leaving due to safety concerns. The UK's busiest international ferry and passenger port typically handles over nine million passengers and two million freight vehicles annually.