Hundreds of protesters, some wearing black and face masks, blocked roads in Portsmouth on Monday morning, vowing to stay all night to prevent migrants from being transported to a processing centre. The protest comes after a migrant boat carrying around 140 people arrived at Eastney Marina, reportedly making one of the longest journeys of any small boat landing as far west as Hampshire. Police have formed a line with riot shields to protect coaches and are urging protesters to disperse by tomorrow evening, while warning that refusal to comply could result in arrest. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X criticizing the government's handling of migrant crossings.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Hundreds of masked men blocked roads leading to the Port of Dover, Britain's busiest ferry port, on September 5, 2026, disrupting traffic and causing a 4-mile-long traffic jam. The protesters, who were dressed in black and wore balaclavas, chanted "stop the boats" as they blocked key roads and linked arms across routes leading to the port. The protest was described as "exceptionally well organised" by Dover District Council leader Kevin Mills, who criticized the police response for being slow.
The disruption caused delays of up to 45 minutes for passengers and cargo vehicles heading for France. P&O Ferries, which runs services between Dover and Calais in France, said its boats were running on schedule, and passengers who missed their ferry would be offered the next available crossing.
The Labour Party government condemned the protest, saying it went beyond peaceful protest. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC that while peaceful protest was an essential part of British life, the "intimidatory behaviour" witnessed in Dover was unacceptable.
The police response to the protest is also under scrutiny, with some politicians questioning whether intelligence was missed and if extra police officers could have been drafted in from the Metropolitan Police to help deal with the disorder. Former Home Office minister and Labour MP for Dover and Deal, Mike Tapp, said he would be asking these questions.
The protest has been linked to a group called Patriot Platform, which is believed to have been founded by Daniel Thomas, an associate of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Written for “Dover Port Protest Disruption” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 17 other(s) covering the same event.
They blocked roads for hours and were vowing to stay all night in the second major anti-migrant protest of the weekend.
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They → block → weekend
Early on Monday morning, a government spokesperson said: “We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behaviour we are seeing tonight.
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we → say → behaviour
“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.
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it → cross → disorder
“We thank the emergency services who are working to safely manage this situation.”
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who → thank → situation
Many of those at Portsmouth were dressed in all black and wore face masks, similar to those who attended the Dover rally.
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who → dress → rally
The dinghy, reported to be carrying some 140 migrants, is thought to have made one of the longest journeys of any small boat and landings as far west as Hampshire are rare.
The protesters said they were determined to prevent authorities from transporting the migrants to the Manston processing centre in Kent.
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they → report → Kent
They blocked traffic along the road leading away from Eastney Marina, with photos showing police carrying riot shields forming a line and protecting a number of coaches that were parked up.
Livestreaming while standing in the sea at Eastney beach, Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo – an associate of ring-wing activist Tommy Robinson – said: “Roads are all blocked, they are never going to be able to leave here.
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they → block → Robinson
He added: “It was only yesterday (at the protests in Dover) when we warned them that we will not accept this any more, and that this is no longer an option to tell us that the boat numbers are down.
“This isn’t about the numbers being down… this is about understanding that this has to come to an end now.”
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this → add → end
Cllr George Madgwick, leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, posted on X that “over 100 migrant men” had arrived on the Portsmouth shores on Sunday.
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men → post → Sunday
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted: “This week Andy Burnham struck an agreement for 45 more officers on French beaches.
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Burnham → post → beaches
Today a boat launched from Baie de Seine, 170 miles from Calais, arriving on the beaches of Hampshire for the very first time.
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boat → launch → time
Only Reform will send the boats back.”
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Reform → send → boats
Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, posted: “Extremely concerning to see an illegal migrant crossing this far west.
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migrant → post → East
“We don’t know if this migrant boat was headed for the Isle of Wight but I’ll be contacting the Home Office first thing.
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I → know → Office
We need to know exactly what happened and if new routes are being used for mega-dinghies by people smugglers.”
Hampshire Police said: “This evening, we have been working alongside and assisting our partners from Border Force, Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Portsmouth City Council at Eastney Marina following the arrival of a boat crossing the Channel.
“
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we → need → Channel
We have officers in the area to ensure the prevention of any disorder.
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We → have → disorder
We ask that people please avoid the area.
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people → ask → area
Anyone who refuses to comply with the direction to leave the area is liable for arrest.
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who → refuse → arrest
“We can also confirm that Border Force has advised us that individuals will be transported outside of Hampshire for processing in the normal way after they have been safely disembarked.”
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they → confirm → way
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: “In response to a report on September 6 of a small boat heading towards the Hampshire coast, HM Coastguard sent lifeboats, an HM Coastguard helicopter, an HM Coastguard aeroplane and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams.
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Coastguard → say → lifeboats
“Border Force, Border Security Command, Hampshire Police and South Central Ambulance Service were also sent.”
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Force → send → ?
A Home Office spokesperson said: “This Government is bearing down on dangerous small boat crossings and restoring control at our border.
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Government → say → border
Joint efforts have seen over 48,000 crossing attempts prevented and 1,100 boats and engines seized since the election.
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boats → see → election
“We are making progress, with the number of small boat crossings down this year and the lowest number recorded for the month of July since 2020.
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We → make → 2020
“But we must go further, which is why we have signed a payment-by-results deal with the French to put 40% more boots on the ground on French beaches.”
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we → go → beaches
The Port of Dover rally was criticised by politicians from all parties, with questions expected to be raised on Monday over whether Kent Police were prepared for it, and there could be similar criticism of Hampshire Police.
uncertain
Police → criticise → Police
The demonstrations brought traffic on routes to the UK’s busiest international ferry and passenger port to a halt, delaying some ferry services and blocking major roads, but there were no arrests.
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demonstrations → bring → roads
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds criticised the demonstrations, which saw protesters march through Dover chanting “Whose streets? Our streets” and “Stop the boats”.
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protesters → criticise → boats
Mr Reynolds told Sky News he condemned the behaviour and the disruption it caused, adding: “Peaceful protest – essential part of British life, but that’s not dressing up in costumes like this and disrupting people’s lives.”
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that → tell → lives
On the same programme, Reform UK economic spokesman Robert Jenrick said: “I don’t like people going around in balaclavas, which is obviously very intimidating.
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which → say → balaclavas
In fact, our party’s policy is to ban face coverings like that.”
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policy → ban → that
