Two Migrant Boats Secretly Enter UK Harbour Overnight as Protesters Gather at Pier Shouting ‘Send Them Back’ — But Where They Came From Is Surprising
Two boats carrying migrants arrived at a UK harbour overnight as police dealt with protesters who had gathered near the waterfront.
The boats entered Portsmouth Harbour before reaching the area around Haslar Marina in Gosport, Hampshire. A group of protesters had already gathered nearby and were waiting as the vessels approached. Some people standing on the pier could be heard shouting, “Send them back.”
The situation had started attracting attention earlier after the Home Office confirmed that authorities were monitoring a small migrant boat travelling through the English Channel.
The migrants were reported to have travelled from the coast of Normandy in northern France. Their journey began from the French side of the Channel before they headed towards British waters. Like many small-boat crossings, the journey involved travelling across one of the busiest stretches of water in the world.
Reports indicated that the migrant dinghy had set off from an area near Utah Beach in Normandy. French authorities monitored the vessel during part of its journey before it continued towards UK waters.
After reaching British waters, the migrants were assisted by RNLI lifeboats and brought towards the Portsmouth Harbour area. This means the two boats later seen arriving were rescue vessels carrying the migrants, rather than two separate migrant dinghies that had crossed all the way from France.
As news spread that the migrants would be brought into the area, anti-immigration protesters began gathering in Gosport. Videos from the scene showed people chanting and making their feelings known while police officers formed a line near the waterfront.
Some protesters were particularly angry about the decision to bring the migrants into Gosport. As the boats approached Haslar Marina, people on the pier shouted towards the vessels, including repeated calls of “Send them back.”
Police increased their presence because of concerns that tensions could rise when the migrants arrived. Officers were positioned around the area to maintain order, protect those involved and allow peaceful protest to continue.
A dispersal order was introduced covering parts of Gosport and Portsmouth. The order gave police additional powers to tell people to leave certain areas if officers believed their presence could lead to disorder or other problems.
Restrictions were also introduced relating to masks and face coverings in the affected areas as police continued monitoring the gathering.
Hampshire Police said officers had been deployed to support other agencies in case an emergency developed at sea. Police also said they were there to help people exercise their right to peaceful protest while keeping everyone in the area safe.
The overnight arrival created an unusual and tense scene around Portsmouth Harbour. Police officers, protesters, rescue crews and other officials were present as the migrants were brought ashore after their journey from France.
The incident comes as small-boat crossings remain one of the most debated immigration issues in Britain. Thousands of people have made the dangerous journey across the English Channel in small vessels, while the Government continues to face pressure over how it handles people arriving this way.
The issue can become particularly sensitive in coastal communities when migrants are brought ashore or transferred through local harbours. Some residents and campaigners have held protests demanding tougher action, while authorities have stressed the importance of protecting lives at sea and maintaining public order.
For those who gathered near Haslar Marina, the arrival of the rescue boats quickly became the main focus of the night. Protesters continued making their feelings clear as the migrants who had travelled from Normandy in France were brought into the harbour under a heavy police presence.
