Protesters gather in Portsmouth as police warn against fear and violence

Anti-migrant protesters and counter demonstrators have gathered in Portsmouth as police warned they would not tolerate incitement of fear or violence.

No-one could be seen wearing masks at either gathering after warnings from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary that protesters wearing face coverings could be arrested under powers in the Crime and Policing Act.

There was a large police presence in Portsmouth city centre where demonstrators assembled to march on Saturday.

The crowd chanted ‘stop the boats’ (Jonathan Brady/PA)

PA Wire

Anti-migrant protesters held Union flags while some wearing Portsmouth Patriot branded clothing gathered outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road.

A man with a megaphone got the crowd chanting “stop the boats”.

He said the protest was against “illegal men invading the shores” and said it was not about giving “f*** the police”.

In the neighbouring car park, demonstrators holding Stand Up To Racism and Refugees Welcome banners were also getting ready to march.

Signs included: “RNLI are heroes, no-one is illegal.”

RNLI volunteers and staff have faced abuse from anti-migrant protesters over its rescue work bringing some small boat migrants ashore.

Hampshire Police have said: “We will support those who want to express their views peacefully and lawfully, but we will not tolerate those whose only aim is to create fear and incite violence.”

Stand Up to Racism held a counter protest (Jonathan Brady/PA)

PA Wire

Both groups have been allocated specific locations at which they can gather under protest conditions.

Failure to comply with conditions could lead to arrest, the force said.

The first man charged over last week’s anti-migrant demonstration in Portsmouth appeared in court on Saturday.

Del Leon Somerville, 42, of Paulsgrove, appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court charged with violent disorder and assaulting a police constable in the execution of their duty.

Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson said Somerville’s arrest was the “first of what we fully anticipate to be a number of arrests” and hoped it would send a “clear warning” to those planning future disruption and disorder.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood met police on Thursday for reassurance they are ready to move quickly in dealing with “far-right groups” seeking to intimidate communities after the events in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend.

A damaged Home Office vehicle with a smashed windscreen at Eastney Point (PA)

PA Wire

Overnight last Sunday, crowds gathered at Eastney Marina after a dinghy’s arrival across the English Channel.

Official vehicles were damaged and a small number of police officers were injured, Hampshire Police said.

About 200 people were dispersed early on Monday.

In Dover, crowds of masked men blocked road access to the port last Saturday, in scenes which were condemned by politicians of all parties.

Ms Mahmood said: “These scenes have caused disruption for people and, given that people are dressed in black wearing balaclavas, there is a fear factor and obvious malign intent being communicated to our residents.

“This makes it different from other protests, so we need to make sure we are learning lessons.”