Gosport protest: Twelve people arrested after anti-migrant protest engulfs seaside town amid 150-strong small boat arrival

Twelve people have been arrested and remain in custody following an anti-migrant protest in Gosport yesterday evening, Hampshire Police confirmed. Police officers and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RNLI and Border Security Command, responded to reports of a small boat crossing the Channel yesterday afternoon, as a vessel carrying 149 migrants docked. Officers were deployed to Haslar Road to respond to a wave of anti-migrant demonstrators which built up over the course of the evening , deploying dispersal orders and placing a ban on face coverings. Around 350 people gathered during the evening, with the crowd dispersing by 2am this morning. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police said agencies involved in the response safely disembarked migrants, and transported them outside Hampshire for processing. A small number of police officers were treated at the scene for injuries during the ordeal. Police said no-one attending from any agency or members of the public was seriously injured. One person suffering from chest pains was assisted by police officers, before being treated by South Central Ambulance Service. Around 100 demonstrators have gathered near Haslar Marina in Gosport, with a police cordon put in place on Haslar Road | PA/TREVOR ADAMS Assistant Chief Constable Simon Dodds said: “Violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest, our position on this has been clear that we will investigate thoroughly and take robust action against anyone responsible. "Last night saw a number of incidents that were clearly not peaceful protest, rather violent public disorder, and this will not be tolerated as we work to keep our wider communities in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight safe. "Our officers did not deserve to be assaulted as they worked incredibly diligently on Sunday to ensure the safety of everyone in the area. "Neither do they, or anyone from our partner agencies, deserve to be singled out online or subjected to abuse via social media. "We will work with our colleagues across policing to address any online threats that are made. “We will continue to review body-worn video footage and videos posted online to identify any further offences and may make further arrests in due course in required”. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Two migrant men killed attempting to cross English Channel in small boat Shabana Mahmood lashes out at Labour ministers over 'sheer number' of pleas for MORE migrant visas US withdraws all B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford after suspected terror plot 149 migrants arrived in Gosport late yesterday evening | PA The 12 individuals arrested during the protests include: A 36-year-old man from Bognor Regis, arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction and failing to comply with the conditions of a dispersal order. A 38-year-old man from Fareham, arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction. A 45-year-old man from Gosport, arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly in a public place. A 29-year-old man from Portsmouth, arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction. A 56-year-old man from Gosport, arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. A 22-year-old man from Gosport, arrested on suspicion of affray and racially aggravated public order. A 42-year-old man from Fareham, arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place and failing to comply with the conditions of a dispersal order. A 35-year-old man, arrested on suspicion of assault by beating of an emergency worker and failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction. A 39-year-old man from Emsworth, arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, attempted criminal damage and possession of a pyrotechnic article at a protest. A 57-year-old woman from Emsworth, arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. A 59-year-old man from Gosport, arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order. A 29-year-old man of no fixed address, arrested on suspicion of obstruction of a highway after ambulances were prevented from travelling along Clayhall Road.Five other people were issued with Section 35 dispersal notices. Some protesters stopped the vans from advancing by standing in front of them, as crowds gathered around the vans chanting "shame on you" and "deport the lot". Around 2am, police began to disperse protesters, allowing for a four coach convoy to be escorted out of the port town to processing facilities in Kent. Local Reform leader councillor George Madgwick earlier said: "This is an absolute shambles. When will this government realise that they need to stop the boats. They are not welcome here." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter