The home secretary has urged police to use every necessary power in response to anti-migrant protests, following demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend.
The intervention comes after two separate protests were held in the southern English locations. The available information identifies the demonstrations as anti-migrant protests but does not specify their size, organisers or whether any arrests were made.
Police forces have been told to make use of the powers available to them where needed. The instruction signals a firm government position on the policing of such demonstrations, particularly where officers judge that public order powers are required.
The protests in Dover and Portsmouth form the immediate background to the home secretary’s message. No further details have been provided about the conduct of the gatherings, whether counter-protests took place, or whether there was any disruption in either area.
The latest known position is that the home secretary’s direction to police stands as the official response to the protests reported last weekend. Further operational decisions would be for police to take in line with the powers available to them.
