UK govt slams anti-migrant protests after unusual Channel crossing

The UK government has condemned demonstrators who attempted to block the arrival of migrants along a southern English coastline that authorities believe is becoming a new route for small boat crossings. Thousands of asylum seekers have been crossing the English Channel on makeshift vessels in recent years, primarily between Calais and Dover, where the distance between France and England is shortest.

On Sunday, Britain's coastguard rescued a boat carrying 140 people who had departed from the French port of Baie de Seine, located southwest of Calais. Later, hundreds of protesters, many dressed in black and wearing face coverings, disrupted the migrants' disembarkation at Eastney Marina in Portsmouth, Hampshire, a location considerably west of Dover.

They blocked roads while police, equipped with riot shields, formed a security perimeter around buses meant to transport the migrants to a processing center, footage on social media showed. The migrants were eventually moved to safety, officials confirmed. The UK interior ministry spokesperson, representing the Home Office, condemned the "intimidating and thuggish behavior" witnessed in Portsmouth, stating that while the right to peaceful protest is fundamental to democracy, it must not cross into disorder.

This demonstration was the second significant anti-migrant incident over the weekend, following large crowds of masked individuals on Saturday who blocked access to the Port of Dover for several hours. Both events were organized by a group called Patriot Platform, founded by Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, who is associated with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Thomas documented and streamed both events on social media. Local Conservative lawmaker Joe Robertson expressed concern over the illegal migrant crossings in Hampshire, stating that the county is "not equipped" to handle such arrivals. Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, emphasized that Portsmouth is insufficiently prepared to receive and process migrants arriving by boat.

She urged the government to ensure the southern coast of Britain remains secure to prevent similar incidents. Britain has been striving to address the perilous small boat crossings, which have seen tens of thousands of asylum seekers arriving annually on southeast England's coast over the past few years. The crossings, often undertaken by individuals fleeing war and famine, have attracted attention from the far-right Reform UK party, which has gained ground since the 2024 general election.

The Labour government claims it is making progress in tackling the issue, partly due to cooperation deals with France and a tightening of the asylum system. According to Home Office data, 16,513 irregular migrants crossed the Channel since the beginning of the year, a 40 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2025. However, recent months have seen an increase in the number of passengers per boat.

The majority of migrants to Britain still arrive through legal channels, according to government data.