Police in riot gear have faced off with protesters in Gosport, with officers reporting some became hostile’ in the wake of a migrant boat landing attempt
Six people were arrested in Gosport after anti-migrant protesters “became hostile (Image: Getty)
Police have arrested six people after anti-migrant protesters “became hostile towards officers” in Hampshire after hundreds of protesters gathered in the naval town.
Dozens of migrants who refused help from the French coastguard and spent more than 30 hours at sea are being transported “to Dover by water”, an MP has said. The French coastguard said around 60 migrants on a small boat spent more than 33 hours at sea “in precarious conditions” and refused help as they were “determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom”.
Demonstrators were met by riot police in Gosport, Hampshire, after a dinghy was intercepted by two RNLI vessels after some 33 hours at sea.
The arrests come after immigration chiefs abandoned attempts to bring Channel migrants into Gosport after hundreds of protesters arrived.
It left a beach near the village of Vierville-sur-Mer, west of Bayeux, in Normandy, and refused help, as it was “determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom”, the French coastguard said.
And immigration chiefs faced fresh fury after plotting to bring migrants into Gosport, Hants, following chaotic scenes in Portsmouth earlier this month. They eventually changed tack, and decided to take the migrants to Dover, Kent.
A migrant boat preparing to sail to the English Channel (Image: Getty)
A spokesperson for Hampshire Police said: “Following news that the vessel would be docking elsewhere in the country, police were met with a group of people who remained in Gosport, some of whom became hostile towards officers.
“As a precaution, we deployed officers to Gosport and Portsmouth this afternoon to support our partners in the event of any emergency at sea, to facilitate any peaceful protest and ensure the safety of the public.
“Police and partner agencies, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Border Security Command, worked closely in response to reports of a small boat crossing the English Channel on Tuesday 22 September.
“Members of the public who were closely following the activity of the vessel turned out in Gosport and Portsmouth to protest.
“To help facilitate peaceful protest, ensure the safety of the local community and support partners in the event of any emergency at sea, we deployed officers to Gosport and Portsmouth.
“As a result, six people were arrested for offences including careless driving, assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass.
“They remain in custody at this time and our enquiries into these incidents continue.
“We are also aware of a video circulating online relating to damage being caused to a boat in the English Channel on the afternoon of 22 September, and we are conducting inquiries into the matter.”