A man has become the first person to be arrested on suspicion of concealing his identity just hours after a new ban on face coverings came into force. The restriction took effect at 10am on Saturday, with police warning those attending rival demonstrations in Portsmouth not to wear face coverings used to conceal their identity.
Hampshire Police said it would use new powers under the Crime and Policing Act 2025 to “allow peaceful protest and prevent violence”. During the protest, three people were arrested, including a 76-year-old man from Southampton on suspicion of wearing or using an item to conceal his identity at a protest.
Three arrested at rival demonstrations
A 33-year-old man from Portsmouth was also arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway, while a 16-year-old boy, also from Portsmouth, was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to a similar protest at Eastney Marina last Sunday.
The measures came amid wider concerns over masked demonstrations, after around 300 protesters blocked access to the Port of Dover last week. Groups from South Coast Patriots had called for a peaceful march through Portsmouth city centre on Saturday afternoon, while a counter-protest was also organised by Stand Up To Racism.
Protesters kept apart at Guildhall Square
Around 300 people joined the counter-protest, with both sets of demonstrators kept apart by police when they arrived at Guildhall Square. A separate order also allowed officers to require people to remove masks and other items being used to conceal their identity.
Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: “I’m pleased that today’s protests in Portsmouth took place without major issue. Thankfully, we didn’t see repeated scenes of Sunday night with assaults on police officers and criminal damage to police vehicles and people’s property.”
Previous weekend’s disorder
She thanked officers for their work and their impartial use of the power to ask people to remove face coverings. The warning came after a 42-year-old man became the first person to be arrested as part of a probe into violent disorder in Portsmouth last weekend, where crowds gathered at Eastney Marina overnight on Sunday after a dinghy arrived in the area having crossed the English Channel.
Hampshire Police said official vehicles were damaged and a small number of officers were injured at the scene, before around 200 people were dispersed at around 4am on Monday. Speaking on Friday, Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo said: “It is important to stress that this power will apply to any groups that attend the protest and will be enforced equally and impartially. Let me be clear, these powers are not being implemented to prevent protest but they are being used to help prevent crime and disorder, while making communities feel safer.”
Hampshire Police said several of its vehicles, alongside those of the coastguard and Border Force, were damaged during the previous weekend’s disruption, while a small number of officers were treated at the scene for injuries. No-one in attendance was seriously injured.
