Gosport Migrant Protest: Man Charged as Police Investigate Violent Clashes

A man has been charged in connection with a protest that erupted in Gosport after a large group of migrants was brought ashore in the Hampshire town, police have confirmed.

Jamie Bennett, 38, of Thyme Avenue in Whiteley, near Fareham, faces a charge of failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction. He has been released on bail and is scheduled to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 26 November.

The charge follows an evening of disorder on Sunday, when around 150 demonstrators gathered on Haslar Road to protest against the arrival of migrants. The Home Office said 149 people were picked up in a mid-Channel rescue operation involving the RNLI and a French vessel before being brought into Gosport by lifeboat.

According to police, flares were set off during the stand-off and scuffles broke out between demonstrators and officers. Some protesters stood in front of police vans to prevent them from moving forward, chanting slogans including "shame on you" and "deport the lot."

Officers made 12 arrests in total: 11 men aged between 22 and 59, and one woman aged 57. The suspected offences range from assaulting police officers and affray to racially aggravated public order and criminal damage.

Among those arrested was a 59-year-old man from Gosport on suspicion of racially aggravated public order, and a 39-year-old man from Emsworth on suspicion of criminal damage, attempted criminal damage and possession of a pyrotechnic article at a protest.

A 29-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway after ambulances were prevented from travelling along Clayhall Road. A 42-year-old man from Fareham was held on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

Two men from Gosport, aged 22 and 56, were arrested on suspicion of affray and racially aggravated public order, and assaulting a police officer respectively. A 57-year-old woman from Emsworth was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

Three other men — a 36-year-old from Bognor Regis, a 35-year-old from Gosport and a 29-year-old from Portsmouth — were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers and failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction. The 45-year-old man from Gosport was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.

Police said the remaining 10 men and one woman have been bailed pending further inquiries. Five people were also issued with Section 35 dispersal notices, which allow officers to direct individuals to leave a specified area.

A small number of officers were treated at the scene for injuries, though none were seriously hurt, according to Hampshire Constabulary.

The migrants themselves were taken by coach to a processing centre in Kent after being brought ashore. The Home Office declined to explain why Gosport had been selected as the landing point on this occasion, stating only that it does not comment on "operational processes."

The incident echoes similar scenes last month, when more than 100 migrants landed at Eastney in Portsmouth, leading to scuffles between police and demonstrators. That earlier episode highlighted growing tensions in coastal communities along the south coast as small boat crossings continue.

The protest in Gosport reflects a broader pattern of localised demonstrations that have followed migrant arrivals in recent months. While the majority of such landings pass without incident, the involvement of organised anti-migrant groups has occasionally led to confrontations with law enforcement.

Legal experts note that failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction is a public order offence that can carry a fine or, in more serious cases, a custodial sentence. The charge against Bennett is among the less severe offences recorded on the night, but it underscores police efforts to enforce conditions placed on assemblies.

Section 35 dispersal notices, meanwhile, are used by police to prevent disorder by requiring individuals to leave a designated area for a set period. Breaching such a notice is itself a criminal offence.

The Home Office has faced repeated questions over its handling of migrant arrivals and the locations chosen for disembarkation. Critics argue that sudden arrivals in small towns can strain local services and inflame community tensions, while supporters of the current system say rescue operations at sea are a humanitarian necessity.

As the investigation continues, Hampshire Constabulary has appealed for anyone with footage or information about the protest to come forward. The force said it is reviewing body-worn camera footage and social media material to identify further suspects.

Bennett's court appearance in November will be the first test of the charges brought so far. Further arrests have not been ruled out as detectives continue to examine evidence from Sunday's disorder.