05/10/2026
Twelve racist yobs have been arrested and remain in custody following a public order incident in Gosport last night (Sunday 4 October).
Police and partner agencies, including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, RNLI, and Border Security Command, worked closely in response to reports of a small boat crossing the English Channel yesterday afternoon.
Police officers were deployed to Haslar Road to manage any public order issues to ensure that partner agencies could work in a safe environment after people were brought ashore alongside maintaining the safety of our local communities and facilitating peaceful protest activity.
A crowd of around 350 racists that gathered dispersed by 02:00am this morning after the agencies that attended safely disembarked individuals and transported them outside of Hampshire for processing as part of the normal process.
A small number of officers were treated at the scene for injuries, but no-one in attendance from any agency or the public was seriously injured. One person suffering from chest pains was assisted by police officers before our colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service provided treatment.
During the evening, the following arrests were made, all remain in custody at this time:
▪️A 36-year-old man from Bognor Regis was arrested 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 38-year-old man from Fareham was arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with a prohibited assembly direction.
▪️A 45-year-old man from Gosport was arrested on 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.
▪️A 56-year-old man from Gosport was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
▪️A 22-year-old man from Gosport was arrested on suspicion of affray and racially aggravated public order.
▪️A 42-year-old man from Fareham was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in a public place 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 39-year-old man from Emsworth was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, attempted criminal damage and possession of a pyrotechnic article at a protest.
▪️A 57-year-old woman from Emsworth was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.
▪️A 59-year-old man from Gosport was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order.
▪️A 29-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested on suspicion of obstruction of a highway after ambulances were prevented from travelling along Clayhall Road.
Five people were also issued with Section 35 dispersal notices.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Dodds said: “Violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest, our position on this has been clear that we will investigate thoroughly and take robust action against anyone responsible.
“Last night saw a number of incidents that were clearly not peaceful protest, rather violent public disorder, and this will not be tolerated as we work to keep our wider communities in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight safe.
“Our officers did not deserve to be assaulted as they worked incredibly diligently on Sunday to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.
“Neither do they, or anyone from our partner agencies, deserve to be singled out online or subjected to abuse via social media. We will work with our colleagues across policing to address any online threats that are made.
“We will continue to review body-worn video footage and videos posted online to identify any further offences and may make further arrests in due course in required”.
