Tourism · Gulf Today
Batons and synthetic pepper spray were used by police to repel hundreds of masked, black-clad vigilantes in Portsmouth on Sunday. The policing minister, Sarah Jones, condemned groups behind the disorder for promoting 'racism and thuggery'. Activists wearing balaclavas clashed with police after a dinghy carrying asylum seekers reached the UK from Normandy.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary launched an investigation into potential assaults and criminal damage. Daniel Thomas, a far-right agitator linked to Tommy Robinson, claimed to have organised the protest. He was also involved in similar disruptions in Dover, where crowds dressed in black and wearing balaclavas blocked the port for hours.
In a statement to MPs, Jones said police used a dispersal notice to maintain order, with officers forced to use batons and Pava spray due to aggression. Spencer Wragg, chair of the Hampshire police federation, noted that a rookie officer was injured. About 120 asylum seekers were brought ashore after a 'mega-dinghy' arrived from Normandy.
The prime minister, Andy Burnham, emphasised Labour’s mission to counter 'fear with positivity and hope', warning against the politics of racism. Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs questioned why police were caught off-guard by the unrest. Meanwhile, a far-right group called Portsmouth Patriots is reportedly planning a demonstration.
Police could impose a balaclava ban on future anti-migrant protests under the Crime and Policing Act. Far-right groups have faced criticism for their actions, with organisations like Hope Not Hate condemning the violence. Hampshire police commissioner Donna Jones warned of potential issues if migrant smugglers shift routes farther west.
Source: The Guardian
