UK home secretary orders tougher police response after anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has told police chiefs to use all powers necessary after anti-migrant protests caused disruption in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend. She said officers must move quickly and effectively against groups she described as seeking to intimidate communities. The Home Office said the demonstrations amounted to unacceptable disorder.

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The meeting took place on Thursday, when Mahmood asked for reassurance that police plans were in place for a stronger response. According to the account of the meeting, she said there was a fear factor because some protesters were dressed in black and wearing balaclavas. She also said the scenes were different from other protests and required lessons to be learned.

The immediate trigger was a protest in Dover on Saturday that brought the town to a standstill, followed by a demonstration in Portsmouth on Sunday. About 200 people tried to block migrants being driven away for processing, and men later blocked the only road out of Langstone Harbour after the RNLI had brought ashore 120 migrants. Police chiefs are now said to be considering whether recently granted powers could be used to ban face coverings in specific areas.

The protests have added pressure to a wider debate over public order, migration and the policing of demonstrations. The Home Office said ministers believe the emerging Patriot Platform umbrella group is intended to intimidate communities. Mahmood also urged police to make better use of intelligence so they could plan more effectively ahead of future weekends.

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The response is significant because Dover is a nationally critical port and disruption there can have wider consequences beyond the immediate protest. The Portsmouth incident also raised concerns about interference with the movement of migrants after they had been brought ashore for processing. The account suggests ministers want a more forceful approach before similar gatherings can escalate further.

It remains unclear whether further protests will go ahead, although local groups in some parts of England have called for more demonstrations. Kent Police has already said it was aware of a possible protest in Dover but had not fully assessed the warning before the port road was blocked. What happens next will depend on whether police use the powers now under consideration and how authorities respond to any new gatherings this weekend.

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