Gosport Protest: Man Charged as 149 Migrants Land in Hampshire Town

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. 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 before Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 26 November.

The charge follows a demonstration on Sunday evening that saw around 150 anti-migrant protesters gather on Haslar Road, where tensions flared into scuffles with police. According to Hampshire Constabulary, officers made 12 arrests during the disorder — 11 men aged between 22 and 59, and a 57-year-old woman. The suspected offences include assaulting police officers, affray, and racially aggravated public order.

The Home Office said the unrest was triggered by the arrival of 149 migrants who were picked up during a mid-Channel rescue operation involving the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and a French vessel. The migrants were brought into Gosport aboard an RNLI lifeboat before being transferred by coach to a processing centre in Kent. A Home Office spokesperson declined to explain why Gosport had been selected for the landing, stating only that the department does not comment on "operational processes".

During the protest, demonstrators set off flares and blocked police vans from advancing by standing in front of them, chanting "shame on you" and "deport the lot". Police said a small number of officers sustained injuries while on duty, though none were seriously hurt. The demonstration follows a similar incident last month, when more than 100 migrants landed at Eastney in Portsmouth, also leading to confrontations between police and protesters.

The 12 people arrested include a 59-year-old man from Gosport, suspected of racially aggravated public order; a 39-year-old man from Emsworth, held on suspicion of criminal damage, attempted criminal damage, and possession of a pyrotechnic article at a protest; and a 29-year-old man of no fixed address, suspected of obstructing a highway after ambulances were prevented from travelling along Clayhall Road.

Also among those detained were a 42-year-old man from Fareham, suspected of being drunk and disorderly in a public place; a 22-year-old man from Gosport, suspected of affray and racially aggravated public order; and a 56-year-old man from Gosport, suspected of assaulting a police officer. A 57-year-old woman from Emsworth was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

Three further men were arrested on suspicion of multiple offences. A 36-year-old man from Bognor Regis was held 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 35-year-old man from Gosport was arrested on suspicion of assault by beating of an emergency worker and failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction. A 45-year-old man from Gosport faces suspicion of assaulting a police officer, criminal damage, and being drunk and disorderly in a public place. A 29-year-old man from Portsmouth was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction.

The remaining 10 men and one woman have been bailed pending further inquiries. In addition to the arrests, five people were issued with Section 35 dispersal notices, which allow police to direct individuals to leave a specified area.

The incident has reignited debate over the handling of migrant arrivals along the south coast of England. The Home Office has faced repeated questions about its decision-making process regarding where migrants are brought ashore, particularly when arrivals occur in areas that have already experienced community tension. The refusal to explain why Gosport was chosen on this occasion is likely to fuel further criticism from local residents and political figures who argue that affected communities deserve greater transparency.

The protest in Gosport mirrors a growing pattern of localised demonstrations across the UK in response to migrant arrivals. In recent months, several coastal towns have seen similar gatherings, often organised spontaneously through social media and drawing hundreds of participants. While some demonstrators frame their actions as legitimate expressions of concern about immigration policy and local resource pressures, police have reported increasing instances of disorder, property damage, and racially motivated offences at such events.

Hampshire Constabulary has not commented on the broader implications of the protest, but its decision to bring charges swiftly suggests a determination to maintain public order and deter further disruptions. Legal experts note that failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction is a relatively uncommon charge, typically used when police have imposed conditions on a protest under the Public Order Act 1986 and individuals refuse to adhere to them.

The arrival of 149 migrants in a single rescue operation represents one of the larger landings on the Hampshire coast in recent months. The involvement of both the RNLI and a French vessel underscores the ongoing cross-border cooperation aimed at responding to small boat crossings in the English Channel. However, the subsequent disorder in Gosport highlights the friction that can arise when large groups are brought ashore in communities that feel unprepared or ignored by central government.

As Jamie Bennett prepares for his court appearance in November, the wider investigation into Sunday's events remains active. Police have urged anyone with footage or information about the protest to come forward. Meanwhile, local representatives and community leaders are calling for a more coordinated response to migrant arrivals — one that balances humanitarian obligations with the need to maintain public confidence and community cohesion in affected areas.