The arrest came after hundreds of people gathered in Portsmouth on Saturday for rival anti-immigration and anti-racism demonstrations.
A man wearing a burka at a protest in Portsmouth (Image: GETTY)
A 76-year-old man has been arrested at an anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth after police accused him of wearing a burka to conceal his identity. Timothy Miller, from Southampton, has been charged with wearing or using an item to conceal his identity at a protest, Hampshire Police said.
The arrest came after hundreds of people gathered in Portsmouth on Saturday for rival anti-immigration and anti-racism demonstrations. Police had warned ahead of the event that they would use new powers under the Crime and Policing Act to require protesters to remove face coverings. Miller is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
The protest at the weekend (Image: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
Images from the protest showed a man wearing the full-length garment as he was spoken to by a police officer.
The arrest followed clashes at an anti-migrant demonstration in the city the previous weekend, when police officers were assaulted and vehicles and private property were damaged.
Hampshire Police had shared images of six men they wanted to speak to following the violence.
Saturday’s protest was the second consecutive weekend that anti-immigration demonstrators had gathered in Portsmouth.
A second man was also arrested during Saturday’s events.
Police officers attend at the anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth (Image: James Veysey/Shutterstock)
David McNally, 33, from Portsmouth, was charged with wilful obstruction of a highway and attempted criminal damage. He is due to appear before Portsmouth magistrates on October 29.
A 16-year-old boy from Waterlooville, who was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in connection with the previous weekend’s events, has been released on bail until December 12.
Donna Jones, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, said Saturday’s demonstration had been “largely peaceful” despite hundreds attending.
She said there had been no repeat of the violence seen the previous Sunday.
Ms Jones said that, apart from “a few people”, protesters had complied with the new requirement to remove face coverings.
Portsmouth: ‘Clear anger’ from crowds at anti-migrant protest
She defended the use of the powers, insisting they had been applied “equally and impartially for everyone involved”.
Ms Jones said: “The people of Portsmouth deserve to go about their business without fear and disruption.”
She added that she would ensure the powers were used proportionately at future demonstrations “for both sides of the spectrum of protesters”.
The anti-immigration demonstration included Portsmouth Patriots, with protesters chanting “Stop the boats”.
A counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism was also held, with demonstrators carrying placards including “RNLI are heroes, no-one is illegal” and “stop pretending your racism is patriotism”.
The latest protests came after disturbances at Eastney Marina on Sunday, September 6, when crowds gathered after a dinghy carrying migrants arrived from France.
Hampshire Police said official vehicles were damaged and a small number of officers were injured during the disorder.
Around 200 people were dispersed in the early hours of Monday following the disturbances.
The events have also prompted concerns among RNLI staff and volunteers, who have faced abuse from anti-migrant protesters over the charity’s role in rescuing people attempting to cross the English Channel in small boats.
Police thanked the hundreds of officers involved in Saturday’s operation and said the new face-covering powers would be used at future demonstrations where necessary.