PORTSMOUTH, England — Hundreds of protesters gathered near Eastney Marina in Portsmouth after a small boat carrying about 140 migrants reached the Hampshire coast on Sunday, September 6, leading to a major emergency response and a police operation that continued overnight.
🚨NEW: A local Portsmouth grandma has canoed out to protesters in the water who are preventing illegal migrants from being unloaded onto the shores, and has given them supplies pic.twitter.com/ztK1mCcjSR
— GB Politics (@GBPolitcs) September 6, 2026
Protesters blocked roads around the marina as authorities prepared to move those brought ashore out of Hampshire for immigration processing. Police deployed officers, including some carrying riot shields, and introduced a dispersal order amid concerns over disorder.
🚨NEW: Hundreds of locals have now gathered outside Portsmouth port and are not allowing any coaches carrying illegal migrants to leave
— GB Politics (@GBPolitcs) September 6, 2026
Danny Tommo, the organiser of the movement, has said "the stand-off might last for days" pic.twitter.com/qa0zbOY12g
Small boat reaches Hampshire coast
The incident began after French maritime authorities were alerted to an overcrowded vessel carrying approximately 140 people west of the Bay of Seine.
French authorities monitored the vessel as it continued towards the UK, with officials saying that attempting to transfer those onboard while at sea could have created additional safety risks.
As the boat approached the Hampshire coast, HM Coastguard coordinated a response involving lifeboats, a helicopter, an aircraft and Coastguard Rescue Teams.
Border Force, Border Security Command, Hampshire Police and South Central Ambulance Service were also involved in the response.
The location of the arrival drew particular attention because small boats crossing the Channel more commonly reach the Kent coast. ITV News reported that the vessel was believed to have completed one of the longest journeys associated with recent small-boat crossings to Britain.
Hundreds gather near Eastney Marina
More than 500 people were reported to have gathered around Eastney Marina following the arrival.
Demonstrators blocked roads near the waterfront while coaches remained in the area as arrangements were made to transport the arrivals for processing.
Police officers formed lines around parts of the marina, with some officers carrying riot shields as the demonstration continued.
The Portsmouth protest came a day after demonstrators blocked roads during a protest at the Port of Dover, temporarily affecting access to the port before the roads reopened.
Police issue dispersal order
Hampshire Police urged members of the public to avoid the Eastney area while officers worked with Border Force, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Portsmouth City Council.
A dispersal order was introduced covering the area and was due to remain in force until Monday evening. Police said the measure gave officers powers to direct people to leave the designated area, with those refusing to comply potentially facing arrest.
Police also said they had been advised by Border Force that those brought ashore would be transported outside Hampshire for processing.
The arrival comes amid continued political debate over Channel crossings and the UK’s asylum system. Recent UK immigration and small-boat figures provide further context on crossings and asylum claims during 2026.
Government responds to Portsmouth protest
The government condemned intimidating behaviour during the demonstration while saying that people had a democratic right to protest peacefully. Officials also thanked police and emergency services involved in responding to the incident.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage drew attention to the distance travelled by the vessel and criticised the government’s handling of small-boat crossings.
Conservative MP Joe Robertson also said he would seek further information from the Home Office about the crossing and whether people-smuggling networks were attempting to use different routes to reach the UK.
There was no immediate evidence that the Portsmouth arrival represented the establishment of a regular new route across the Channel. Further crossings from similar departure points or information from British and French authorities would be needed to establish whether the incident marked a broader change in smuggling activity.
Authorities were expected to continue monitoring the Eastney area on Monday while the dispersal order remained in effect.
The circumstances surrounding the vessel’s journey are also likely to face further scrutiny because of the distance it travelled before reaching Hampshire, away from the Kent coastline where most Channel small-boat arrivals are recorded.
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