Twelve arrests after protest over migrant boat arrival
Flares were set off and there were a few scuffles with police during the stand-off in Gosport.
Twelve individuals have been apprehended, primarily for offenses such as assaulting a police officer, following a protest against migrant arrivals in Gosport, Hampshire. The Home Office reported that 149 migrants were rescued from a mid-Channel operation involving the RNLI and a French vessel. Tensions escalated during the protest, with about 150 demonstrators holding their ground at a marina.
The confrontation included the use of flares and scattered clashes with law enforcement. Eleven men and one woman faced charges for offenses including assaulting police officers, affray, and racially aggravated public order. They remain in custody pending further proceedings. The migrants were subsequently transported to a processing center in Kent.
This incident marks the second significant landing of migrants in the region in recent years. Police maintained a cordon in Haslar Road, where most of the protest remained peaceful, with demonstrators chanting "shame on you" and "deport the lot." Hampshire Police deployed officers to support emergency response alongside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RNLI, and Border Security Command.
The force implemented measures under the Public Order Act and restricted face coverings. Despite minor injuries to some officers, no one was seriously harmed during the protest. Assistant Chief Constable Simon Dodds emphasized that violence has no place in peaceful protest, pledging a thorough investigation and robust action against offenders.
He condemned the assault on officers, stressing their dedication to community safety. The police also warned that any online threats will be addressed and may lead to additional arrests.
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