Hundreds of anti-immigration protesters have gathered in two port cities on the south coast amid police restrictions and warnings against the use of face coverings.
In Southampton, anti-migrant protesters from South Coast Patriots and anti-racism demonstrators from Southampton Stand Up To Racism have gathered in the city centre.
Similar scenes are unfolding in Dover, Kent, where police vehicles line the streets outside Dover Priory Station, the starting point of the march.
Protest details and groups involved
South Coast Patriots is not among the regional groups listed on its website as affiliates of Patriot Platform, the network founded by anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas – known to his supporters as Danny Tommo.
Online posts advertising the protest in Dover carry the name English Defence League and the Patriot Platform affiliate Kent Patriots posted on Instagram stating their members would not attend.
Demonstrators in Southampton began marching from the port waving English and Union flags and chanting: “Stop the boats”; “England till I die”; and: “Deport the f****** lot”.
Counter-demonstrations and police measures
Many bystanders on the High Street stopped to watch and film the march on their phones, with a woman sitting outside a cafe shouting “scum” at the group, sparking a brief row with a demonstrator.
The march then stopped outside Southampton Crown Court where a woman using a megaphone said: “You are supposed to protect us, not these illegal men coming into our country.”
A counter-demonstration of around 50 Stand Up To Racism activists had gathered at the Bargate in Southampton city centre. The anti-immigration group walked past without incident and continued up the High Street.
Hampshire Police said officers have been given additional policing powers and several restrictions have been placed on the protesting groups.
A message from Superintendent Alex Charge, district commander for Southampton, posted on the force’s website said officers have implemented a dispersal order to cover a specific area from 7pm on Friday until 7am on Sunday. Those taking part in the protest will be banned from wearing face coverings to conceal their identity between 11am and 5pm on Saturday.
Dover preparations and restrictions
Elsewhere, Kent Police said “robust” preparations are in place to keep disruption to a minimum ahead of the demonstration in Dover. The force said a “substantial” number of highly-trained officers will be stationed in the town centre on Saturday.
A counter-protest will be held at Pencester Gardens although officers “anticipate the two groups may attempt to come together”.
The force announced a face covering ban will be in force on Saturday from 8am to 9pm and will apply to those taking part in the protest. It covers parts of Dover, including Buckland, Whitfield, Guston, St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe and surrounding areas. People covering their faces for religious, health or work-related reasons are not affected.
