Key facts
- Two men and a teenage boy were arrested in Portsmouth during anti-immigration protests.
- A 76-year-old man was arrested for concealing his identity under new powers.
- A 33-year-old man was arrested for obstructing a highway.
- A 16-year-old boy was arrested for violent disorder related to previous events.
- Protesters chanted "stop the boats" and expressed opposition to asylum seekers.
- Counter-protesters held signs such as "RNLI are heroes, no one is illegal".
Police arrested two men and a teenage boy in Portsmouth on Saturday during a second weekend of anti-immigration protests. The demonstrations followed the interception of a boat carrying 140 asylum seekers near the city the previous Sunday. Authorities maintained a strong police presence and warned against incitement of fear or violence.
One of the arrested individuals, a 76-year-old man from Southampton, was detained for allegedly concealing his identity, a move police had warned could lead to arrest under the Crime and Policing Act. A 33-year-old man from Portsmouth was arrested for obstructing a highway, and a 16-year-old boy from the same city was arrested for violent disorder related to incidents from the previous Sunday.
Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, noted that the protests, with a few exceptions, were peaceful and conducted in accordance with new laws requiring protesters to uncover their faces. She emphasized that residents deserve to go about their business without fear or disruption.
Demonstrators at the anti-immigration march chanted "stop the boats" and expressed opposition to asylum seekers, with some wearing branded clothing and holding union flags. Counter-protesters, including groups like Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and Refugees Welcome, gathered nearby with signs such as "RNLI are heroes, no one is illegal."
In Glasgow, hundreds also participated in an anti-immigration rally and a counter-protest, which passed off peacefully amid a heavy police presence and segregation of opposing groups. This follows flashpoints at a previous protest in the same park in July.
Last Sunday's events in Portsmouth were triggered by a large vessel carrying asylum seekers approaching the city, marking the first time such a large group arrived directly by boat and faced significant anti-migrant protests attempting to block their processing. Small boat crossings have decreased by over 40% compared to the previous year, with smugglers reportedly adapting tactics to make crossings more dangerous.
Del Leon Somerville, 42, appeared in court charged with violent disorder and assaulting a police constable in connection with last weekend's demonstration. Assistant chief constable Tony Rowlinson stated that this arrest was the first of anticipated further arrests, intended as a warning against future disruption.