Portsmouth sees second weekend of far-right protests; police arrest three

Portsmouth saw a second weekend of far-right anti-immigration protests, where police arrested two men and a teenage boy. The demonstrations follow the interception of a small boat carrying 140 asylum seekers near the city last Sunday. The arrests included a 76-year-old man from Southampton on suspicion of concealing his identity, a 33-year-old man from Portsmouth for obstructing a highway, and a 16-year-old boy for violent disorder. Counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism and Refugees Welcome gathered nearby, while police enforced new powers requiring face coverings to be removed. The protests occurred amid broader tensions, including a similar rally in Glasgow and a prior incident where demonstrators tried to block asylum seekers from being processed. Small boat crossings have fallen by over 40% year-on-year, though smugglers are launching boats from farther away, making crossings more dangerous.