Man charged over Gosport migrant protest

A man has been charged after a protest over migrant arrivals in a Hampshire town.

The Home Office said 149 migrants were picked up on Sunday in a mid-Channel rescue operation by the RNLI, alongside a French vessel, and were brought ashore at Gosport.

Flares were set off and there were scuffles with police during a stand-off involving about 150 anti-migrant demonstrators.

Jamie Bennett has been charged with failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction. The 38-year-old, of Thyme Avenue in Whiteley, Fareham, has been bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 26 November.

Police made 12 arrests following the protest on Haslar Road, 11 men aged between 22 and 59, and a 57-year-old woman.

Suspected offences included assaulting police officers, affray and racially aggravated public order.

The remaining 10 men and one woman have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Police said a small number of officers were treated at the scene for injuries but none were seriously hurt.

Some demonstrators stopped police vans from advancing by standing in front of them and chanting "shame on you" and "deport the lot".