Six Arrested After Anti-Migrant Protest at Haslar Marina

Six Arrested After Anti-Migrant Protest at Haslar Marina Leads to Aggravated Trespass

On September 22, 2026, a crowd gathered in Gosport, England, following reports that a boat carrying migrants was headed for Haslar Marina. The situation escalated, leading to six arrests by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. The arrests involved allegations of careless driving, assaulting an emergency worker, and aggravated trespass.

The gathering was a response to information that a small boat was approaching Gosport. Authorities rerouted the vessel, and it eventually reached Dover early on September 23. After the boat’s destination changed, some individuals who remained in Gosport reportedly became hostile towards police officers. The six arrested individuals were taken into custody as investigations continued. The protest did not result in the boat docking at Haslar Marina.

A police spokesperson stated that officers were deployed to Gosport and Portsmouth as a precautionary measure to assist maritime partners, support any peaceful demonstrations, and ensure public safety. The police also confirmed they were in communication with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Border Security Command. The spokesperson added that police would begin to scale back their operation but would maintain a presence in the area until people dispersed and public safety was assured.

Arrests Detail Specific Allegations

The six arrests were categorized under three alleged offenses. Two men from Salisbury, aged 19 and 36, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass. The remaining four individuals, all from Gosport, were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. This group included men aged 33 and 67, and women aged 31 and 32. The 67-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of careless driving. Police emphasized that these are allegations and no charges have been announced as inquiries are ongoing. All six individuals remained in custody.

Separate Investigation into Channel Video

In addition to the arrests in Gosport, police have opened an inquiry into a video circulating online. The footage appears to show a person damaging an inflatable boat in the English Channel earlier on the same day. Reports identified the individual in the video as Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, a far-right campaigner who had reportedly encouraged supporters to go to Gosport to disrupt the migrant boat’s arrival. The video shows him cutting the side of the boat while a rescue worker was on board. Police are conducting inquiries into this matter, which is separate from the Gosport arrests.

Migrant Boat’s Journey to Dover

The boat carrying approximately 60 migrants reportedly spent over 33 hours at sea. It was shadowed by a French coastguard vessel during its journey. Some reports indicated that around 51 migrants on board had refused assistance from a French ship. The vessel ultimately arrived in Dover around 12:30 AM on Wednesday, September 23, after being redirected from its intended route towards Gosport. This arrival occurred hours after the crowd had gathered in Hampshire. A Home Office spokesperson commented that groups aiming to create fear and intimidate communities should not be allowed to operate freely, noting that 21 individuals had already been detained under swift enforcement measures. Police confirmed their continued presence in Gosport and Portsmouth to manage the dispersal of people and maintain public safety.

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