Anti-migrant protesters gather as small boat heads for south coast

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A number of people were seen arriving at a marina in Gosport, Hampshire, having been transported aboard two RNLI boats late on Sunday. Their dinghy appeared to have set off from near Utah Beach in Normandy during the morning, according to ship tracking data.

French media reported there were about 120 migrants on board.

Hampshire Police said it deployed officers to "support our partners in the event of an emergency at sea". The force imposed conditions under the Public Order Act as well as powers prohibiting the wearing of face coverings.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Border Security Command works around the clock to monitor the Channel and protect our border."

They added it was "vital we continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival".

A police cordon has been put in place on Haslar Road in Gosport, where the atmosphere at the protest mostly remained peaceful.

Ambulances and coaches were also reportedly in the area.

Some protesters stopped police vans from advancing by standing in front of them and chanting "shame on you" and "deport the lot".

There were similar scenes last month when protesters gathered in the area expecting migrants to arrive on a dinghy, but they were ultimately taken to Dover by sea.

Departures so far west along the south coast have been rare in recent years but it is the third such crossing in the space of a month.

The provisional total for Channel crossings this year is 19,451.

This is down 43% on this time last year and 23% below the figure at this stage in 2024.