Hundreds of protesters gathered in Portsmouth on Sunday night after around 140 migrants in a single dinghy were rescued in the English Channel.
In the second major anti-migrant protest of the weekend, police faced off with demonstrators as they blocked roads in an effort to stop the people who had arrived on the small boat from leaving the city.
Hampshire Police urged people to avoid the Eastney Landing ferry port area, where the migrants were brought ashore, and said a dispersal order was in place, meaning anyone failing to comply could be arrested.
The government condemned “the intimidating and thuggish behaviour” of the protesters, many of whom were dressed in black and wore masks.
Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East Joe Robertson said on X it was “extremely concerning to see an illegal migrant crossing this far west”.
Protesters said they were trying to stop authorities transporting the migrants to the Manston processing centre in Kent.
Police carrying riot shields protected a number of coaches parked on a road leading a away from Eastney Marina as protesters blocked traffic.
Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo – an associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson – was livestreaming from the scene.
“Roads are all blocked, they are never going to be able to leave here,” he said.
A government spokesperson said: “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.”
“We thank the emergency services who are working to safely manage this situation.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X: “This week Andy Burnham struck an agreement for 45 more officers on French beaches. Today a boat launched from Baie de Seine, 170 miles from Calais, arriving on the beaches of Hampshire for the very first time. This is a joke. Only Reform will send the boats back.”
