Hundreds of anti-migrant protesters gathered in Portsmouth on Saturday as police warned they could arrest anyone who concealed their face and said further detentions were likely.
The demonstration began at All Saints Church in Commercial Road at 12.30pm, with protesters due to march to Guildhall Square. Organisers Portsmouth Patriots and aligned groups were allocated a designated gathering area and route.
Hampshire Police said powers under the Crime and Policing Act made it illegal to wear a face covering to conceal someone’s identity while taking part in protest activity within the designated area.
The force said it would support people expressing their views “peacefully and lawfully”, but warned it would not tolerate those whose aim was “to create fear and incite violence”. Failure to comply with conditions could lead to arrest.
A man using a megaphone led chants including “stop the boats”. He said the demonstration was against “illegal men invading the shores” and insisted it was not about telling the police to “f***” off.
A counter-demonstration organised by Stand Up To Racism was also due to take place in a specified area next to the protest.
Police response after earlier disorder
The Portsmouth protest follows demonstrations by Right-wing groups since last weekend, when several hundred men dressed in black and wearing balaclavas blocked access to the port of Dover.
Overnight last Sunday, around 200 people were dispersed from Eastney Marina after gathering following the arrival of a dinghy from the English Channel. The group attempted to prevent about 120 migrants from leaving the area on coaches.
Hampshire Police said official vehicles were damaged and a small number of officers were injured during the incident.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood met police on Thursday to seek reassurance that officers were prepared to act quickly against “far-right groups” attempting to intimidate communities following the events in Dover and Portsmouth.
Danny Thomas, who organised the Dover protest, said on social media on Friday that he would not attend the Portsmouth demonstration, but called for “as many people as possible” to turn out.
Police announced that Del Leon Somerville, 42, of Paulsgrove, Portsmouth, had been charged with violent disorder and assaulting a police constable in the execution of their duty in connection with the earlier protest.
Somerville appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court, sitting at the crown court, and did not enter pleas to charges of violent disorder between September 5 and 8 in Portsmouth and assaulting a constable on September 11 in Waterlooville.
Prosecutor Lucy Paddick told the court that Somerville was accused of throwing a bottle towards a police line and allegedly telling officers to “f*** off” as it was thrown. He was also alleged to have kicked Pc Peskett in the right thigh when he was arrested.
Somerville was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at Portsmouth Crown Court on September 16.
Ms Mahmood said the recent scenes had caused disruption and that people wearing black and balaclavas created “a fear factor and obvious malign intent” for residents.
