Following police warnings that powers to arrest demonstrators wearing face coverings would be used, a 76-year-old man has been charged with concealing his identity at a Portsmouth anti-immigration protest.
Timothy Miller, of Southampton, will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday accused of wearing or using an item to conceal his identity at a protest, Hampshire Police said.
It comes after anti-migrant and anti-racism protesters faced off in the city centre on Saturday.
Police used powers under the Crime and Policing Act to restrict face coverings following anti-immigration protests featuring masked men in Portsmouth and Dover last weekend.
Another man and a teenage boy were arrested at the protests on Saturday.
David McNally, 33, of Portsmouth, has been charged with wilful obstruction of a highway and attempted criminal damage.
He is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on October 29.
A 16-year-old boy, from Waterlooville, who was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to scenes last week, has been released on bail until December 12.
Anti-migrant protesters held Union flags while some wearing Portsmouth Patriot branded clothing gathered outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road on Saturday.
A man with a megaphone got the crowd chanting “stop the boats”.
In the neighbouring car park, demonstrators holding Stand Up To Racism and Refugees Welcome banners gathered.
Signs included: “RNLI are heroes, no-one is illegal” and “stop pretending your racism is patriotism”.
RNLI volunteers and staff have faced abuse from anti-migrant protesters over its rescue work bringing some small boat migrants ashore.
The anti-immigration protest marched to Guildhall Square and the counter-protest followed behind on the same route.
A line of police formed to keep anti-racism protesters from anti-immigration protesters who followed them as they were leaving the scene.
The anti-immigration protesters were shouting at the Stand Up To Racism supporters, with one man repeatedly yelling “scum”, while a woman in the anti-racism group replied “you’re threatening us”.
Both groups were allocated specific locations at which they could gather under protest conditions.
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.
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 at the time: “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.”
