Several arrests have been made at an anti-immigration protest in Portsmouth as protesters clashed and police cracked down on face coverings.
Hampshire Police warned officers would not tolerate violence as groups from South Coast Patriots and Stand Up To Racism faced off in Portsmouth city centre on Saturday following last week’s demonstrations at Eastney Marina and Dover.
Stand Up To Racism supporters were booed and called “leftie scum” by anti-immigration protesters. Police were forced to form a line to keep the groups apart after they had marched the same route to Guildhall Square and assembled to face each other on opposite sides, shouting at each other.
Last week’s protests saw hundreds of anti-migrant protesters descend on Eastney Marina in black masks after a small boat was intercepted and brought to shore. Saturday’s demonstrators were warned that anyone wearing face coverings could be arrested under powers in the Crime and Policing Act.
A Section 60AA order was put in place during the march, giving officers the power to require protesters to remove masks, face coverings, or any other items used to conceal their identity.
A person wearing what appeared to be black scarves tied across their face and head was pictured in handcuffs on Saturday afternoon.
The force confirmed it had arrested two men and a teenage boy on Saturday.
A 76-year-old man from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of wearing or using an item to conceal his identity at a protest after the force announced it would use powers enabling it to arrest anybody wearing a face covering at the demonstration.
A 33-year-old man from Portsmouth was also arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway and criminal damage after a police van was allegedly targeted.
Police also arrested a 16-year-old boy from Portsmouth on suspicion of violent disorder, in relation to violent public disorder at Eastney Marina last Sunday.
Police said the powers were aimed at preventing violence and disorder following protests in the city over the past week involving masked demonstrators. The policing powers are in force from 9am on Saturday until 9am on Sunday.
One video posted to social media showed a man wearing a burqa, in an apparent attempt to flout the ban, being spoken to by police.
Another man on a mobility scooter wearing a plastic face mask was stopped by police at Guildhall Square in Portsmouth, where he was spoken to by officers. He then removed the mask and continued on his way.
Earlier, a member of the Facebook group The Patriots of Great Britain urged anti-migrant protesters to wear “hats, shades and war paint” instead of face coverings in an apparent attempt to flout the ban.
“They can't ban those. It will show people not to be frightened of you, it will invoke British humour and pride, and it will give the right-wing media something to praise, and it will make the government look like mugs,” they added.
Another shared an AI-generated image of an army of men all wearing hats, sunglasses and beards, with the caption “where there’s a will, there’s a way”.
A large police presence was seen in Portsmouth city centre, where anti-migrant protesters were seen holding Union flags. Some wearing Portsmouth Patriot-branded clothing were gathering outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road.
In the neighbouring car park, demonstrators holding Stand up to Racism and Refugees Welcome banners also gathered. Signs included “RNLI are heroes, no-one is illegal”, a reference to the abuse volunteers received when they helped escort migrants to safety last week.
Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, an activist who organised last weekend's protests, wrote on social media platform X that his group Patriot Platform would not attend the planned Portsmouth demonstration.
“No member, organiser, representative, or affiliate of Patriot Platform will attend, speak at, steward, or take part in any event in Portsmouth,” he wrote.
Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo said ahead of the planned marches: “It is important to stress that this power will apply to any groups that attend the protest and will be enforced equally and impartially.
“Let me be clear: these powers are not being implemented to prevent protest, but they are being used to help prevent crime and disorder, while making communities feel safer.
“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.”
