Hundreds of masked demonstrators chanting "stop the boats" blocked roads at the Port of Dover on Saturday, causing miles of tailbacks and preventing access to the facility for several hours. The protest, which lasted from 07:00 BST to approximately 11:30, has drawn criticism over the speed of the police response and the level of preparedness shown by law enforcement agencies.
Kevin Mills, leader of Dover District Council, told the BBC that the demonstration was "exceptionally well organised" and that protesters "caught several agencies on the hoof" when they arrived. He said the force "appeared to be quite slow to keep the roads and the networks open, which is disappointing." Mills added that "the protesters knew what they were doing, I'm not sure the police did know what was going to happen," though he acknowledged that police resources are stretched.
The Labour councillor said there "needs to be a wash-up" to establish what happened on Saturday morning, as "no-one actually knew" what was unfolding at the time.
Kent Police said on social media that it responded to a "spontaneous protest" and that no arrests were made, with all participants dispersing by midday. Port access was restored and traffic was flowing normally after the demonstration ended.
However, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds defended the police response, telling the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that officers "did deal with it swiftly." Reynolds condemned the protest itself, saying
"Peaceful protest is an essential part of British life but that is not what we saw there with that kind of intimidatory behaviour."He expressed sympathy for residents and those disrupted by the action.
Reynolds also noted that while he was "not aware that there's been any violence," the sight of vehicles being blocked by men in black paramilitary-style gear and balaclavas was "extremely intimidating".
Who organised the demonstration?
Anti-hate organisation Hope Not Hate claimed the Patriot Platform network arranged the protest, saying the group began meeting in July and had brought together members of anti-migrant groups from around the country. Police have not yet commented on who was behind the demonstration.
Far-right activists Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas both posted about the protest on X, praising those involved. Thomas wrote:
"The experience on the ground today, was the overwhelming majority of the women and local people we spoke to were thankful that people were actually doing something."He praised protesters for showing "discipline" and said they had "stuck to the plan."
What did government figures say about the organisers?
Reynolds dismissed the agenda of Robinson and similar figures, stating that they were "not interested in solving genuine problems this country has." He continued:
"They want to exploit their online following and take money from the people willing to follow them online, and that's what that agenda is. This government is about solving the problems that really make a difference to people's lives."
What did protesters tell the media?
Demonstrators told the BBC they did not wish to engage with journalists. When approached on Saturday, one said "send them back" and another said "stop the boats," but most declined to comment further.
What happens next?
Kent Police scrutiny is expected to continue after the force's public account of the protest drew criticism over its response time and preparedness. The incident has raised questions about police planning and coordination with other agencies in response to large-scale demonstrations.
Key Facts:
- The protest lasted approximately 4.5 hours, from 07:00 to 11:30 BST on Saturday 5 September
- No arrests were made during the demonstration, according to Kent Police
- Anti-hate group Hope Not Hate attributed the organisation to the Patriot Platform network, which began coordinating in July
- Council leader Mills criticised police preparedness, while Business Secretary Reynolds defended the police response as swift
- Far-right figures including Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas promoted the protest on social media
