UK Police Arrest Protesters at Portsmouth as Migrant Bus Blocked

British police made arrests in Portsmouth on Sunday night after anti-immigration demonstrators attempted to block buses carrying migrants who had been brought ashore. The migrants, around 140 in number, had crossed the English Channel from Normandy in a journey that officials noted was longer and riskier than typical crossings from near Calais.

Hundreds of protesters, many masked and dressed in dark clothing, confronted police near the port and tried to prevent lifeboats from landing. After the migrants were brought to shore, the crowd shifted focus to the buses transporting them to an asylum processing facility. Video from the scene showed a damaged police vehicle and officers lined up around the coaches.

The UK government condemned the actions, stating that while peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right, it must not cross into disorder. The statement specifically called out the "intimidating and thuggish behavior" of the demonstrators.

The Portsmouth incident followed a similar protest a day earlier in Dover, where masked demonstrators blocked roads leading to Britain's busiest ferry port, disrupting both passenger and cargo traffic. Reports indicate both protests were linked to Daniel Thomas, an associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

The events come amid ongoing political pressure over Channel crossings, which exceeded 40,000 last year. The government of Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pointed to increased UK-France law enforcement cooperation, claiming crossings are down more than 40% compared to 2025.