Portsmouth rival protests as face mask ban takes effect

Rival protest groups marched through Portsmouth on Saturday as new police powers banning face coverings at demonstrations came into effect, with officers separating the opposing crowds. The measures, introduced under the Crime and Policing Act, aim to prevent violence and disorder following unrest on 6 September when hundreds blocked roads to stop coaches carrying 120 migrants. Up to 500 anti-migrant protesters and about 300 counter-demonstrators participated, with no face coverings observed. Police vehicles were damaged during the earlier disruption, and officers sustained minor injuries. The new powers apply equally to all groups, with Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo emphasising they target crime prevention, not protest suppression.