Anti-migrant protesters scuffle with police after 149 small boat arrivals use ‘new route’

Everything you need to know about the small boat arrival in Hampshire

• On Sunday, multiple dinghies departed from Normandy for the UK, as migrants take longer, more dangerous crossing routes from beaches further west of Calais.
• Following an English Channel crossing, a dinghy was shadowed by French vessels before two RNLI boats brought approximately 149 migrants ashore near Haslar Marina in Gosport overnight.
• The arrival sparked local outrage, with protesters chanting “send them back”. Police established cordons, resulting in six people arrested following clashes, implementing a dispersal order alongside a face-covering ban.
• Authorities dispatched ambulances and coaches to the area, later confirming the newly arrived individuals would be transported for processing in Kent to undergo standard health, security and biometric checks.

• Gosport’s Conservative MP, Caroline Dinenage, heavily criticised the Home Office’s response, arguing that the town lacks the hospital and transport infrastructure for disembarkations, and demanded future boats are redirected to Dover.