A 42-year-old man from Paulsgrove has been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and assaulting a police officer following an anti-migrant demonstration at Eastney Marina in Portsmouth on Sunday evening. The arrest came after officers reviewed video footage from the protest, which saw hundreds of demonstrators block roads in an attempt to prevent coaches carrying migrants who had crossed the Channel in a dinghy from departing the city. He remains in custody as investigations continue.
The demonstration erupted after Southampton and Portsmouth ports declined a request to accept the RNLI vessel carrying the migrants, according to reporting from a regional broadcaster. This forced the landing at Eastney Marina instead, where the arrival triggered the large-scale protest. The number of migrants involved has been reported differently across sources, with some accounts citing around 140 arrivals in a single dinghy rather than the 120 initially reported.
Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson described the arrest as
the "first of several" arrests expected to be made as part of the investigation. Police vehicles, alongside those of the coastguard and Border Force, sustained damage during the disruption, which continued into the early hours of Monday. A small number of officers received treatment for injuries at the scene, though no-one present suffered serious harm.
During the disturbance, protesters pushed officers off motorbikes and threw stones and bricks at police, according to accounts from regional news coverage. Officers deployed batons and PAVA spray to restore order, as confirmed by government statements to parliament.
What police say about the disorder
Rowlinson stated that
violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest and we will investigate incidents like this thoroughly and take robust action against those responsible. He characterised the Sunday evening events as
violent public disorder, and this will not be tolerated as we work to keep our wider communities in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight safe.
The police chief also warned against online abuse directed at officers and partner agencies.
We will work with our colleagues across policing to address any online threats that are made, he said, following reports that RNLI volunteers had been targeted on social media in connection with migrant rescue operations.
What comes next in the investigation
Rowlinson issued a direct warning to potential offenders, stating:
This arrest also sends a clear warning to anyone intent on causing disruption and disorder at any future events. If you break the law we will take action against you and where it is feasible to do so seek a prosecution. The constabulary has indicated that further arrests are anticipated as video review of the protest continues, though no timeline for charges or court proceedings has been announced.
Wider context of weekend unrest
The Portsmouth disorder followed a separate anti-migrant protest at the Port of Dover on Saturday, as part of a broader weekend of demonstrations against small-boat arrivals. UK ministers condemned the Portsmouth unrest as
thuggish, with investigations ongoing into the full scale of the disruption and those involved.
Key Facts:
- A 42-year-old man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and assaulting police following Sunday's protest at Eastney Marina
- Hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads to prevent coaches carrying migrants from leaving Portsmouth
- Police, coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged; several officers treated for injuries
- Assistant Chief Constable confirmed further arrests expected as video evidence is reviewed
- The protest came after Southampton and Portsmouth ports declined to accept the RNLI vessel carrying the migrants
