Government reports police response to Dover and Portsmouth protests

Protests in Dover and Portsmouth

The government has reported on police operations during protests at the Port of Dover and Eastney Marina in Portsmouth, saying no arrests were made at either event but investigations into possible criminality remain under way.

According to the ministerial statement, about 150 people arrived at the Port of Dover at around 7.30am on Saturday, many wearing face coverings. Kent Police described the gathering as a no-notice protest and deployed officers to the port.

The government said the crowd dispersed several hours later and full access to the port was restored. It reported that ferry passengers and motorists experienced delays.

In the second incident, the government said a boat carrying approximately 120 people reached British waters near the Isle of Wight during Sunday afternoon. The RNLI, acting under the direction of HM Coastguard, met the boat and directed it towards Eastney Marina in the wider Portsmouth area.

More than 200 protesters arrived at the harbour at around 8pm, according to the statement. The government said they intended to block three coaches that were due to carry the arrivals for processing, and that many protesters wore black clothing and face masks.

Police response and investigations

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, supported by neighbouring forces, used a dispersal notice. The statement said officers used batons and PAVA spray while responding to aggression and maintaining order.

Officers remained at the scene into the early hours. The government said protesters began dispersing at around 4am and the coaches subsequently departed. No arrests were made that night, although investigations are continuing.

The minister said discussions had taken place with key policing partners. The government reported that work was under way to identify lessons and ensure relevant intelligence was shared quickly across the law-enforcement system.

Border enforcement figures

The statement also set out government figures on action against organised immigration crime and small boat crossings. The government said it had doubled the number of National Crime Agency officers assigned to that work and that system-wide arrests had risen by 70%.

It reported the seizure of more than 1,100 boats and engines and said work with French law enforcement had prevented more than 48,000 attempted crossings. A deal signed in April secured a reported 40% increase in French personnel, bringing the total to more than 1,000, alongside enhanced surveillance technology and specialist units.

The government also reported more than 6,000 small boat returns since the election, described as a 64% increase on the final two years of the previous government. It said more than 80,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals had been removed and that crossings so far this year were down by more than 43% compared with last year.