‘Stop the boats’: Masked men block roads to Dover port in anti-immigration protest

Masked men impeded the flow of traffic at Britain's primary ferry port, the Port of Dover, on Saturday. Police confirmed they were "engaging with the protesters." The port's controllers reported that all inbound and outbound traffic had come to a halt due to the ongoing public disorder. Social media videos displayed a group of several dozen men in black attire, their faces covered, obstructing a major road near the port.

The identity of their demands remained unclear. The National Highways agency noted that the protests resulted in a four-mile (6.4-kilometer) traffic jam, causing delays of up to 45 minutes. P&O Ferries, operating services between Dover and Calais, France, reported that their vessels were operating as scheduled, and passengers missing their ferry would be provided with the subsequent available crossing.

Dover, situated approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of London, has previously witnessed anti-immigrant protests focusing on migrants crossing the Channel via small boats from France. Certain politicians, notably Nigel Farage from the hard-right Reform UK party, have exploited this topic, labeling asylum seekers as an "invasion" in a speech on Friday.

The Labour Party government attributes the decline in the number of people attempting the crossing this year to enhanced law enforcement cooperation with France, stating it has decreased by over 40% compared to 2025. Mike Tapp, a Labour lawmaker representing Dover in Parliament, denounced "idiots coming to Dover to cause disruption," adding, "I bet if you asked any of those 'protesters,' they wouldn't know small boat crossings are down by 40% and we are working hard to fix the mess. Go home, enjoy your weekend/get a job."