Six arrested at Gosport as Channel migrants taken to Dover

Hundreds of people gathered at Gosport Harbour on Wednesday expecting a migrant dinghy to arrive. It never did. The dinghy went to Dover.

The crossing had started off the Normandy coast on Monday morning. Those on board spent more than 30 hours at sea and turned down French coastguard assistance before RNLI lifeboats from Hastings and Eastbourne reached them in the Channel. The Hastings crew, aboard lifeboat 13-28, was among those deployed to the dinghy. The group was transferred to Dover after a Border Force cutter intercepted them, a day after a separate rescue operation brought a different migrant group across the same waters.

Around 51 people landed at Dover. The Gosport crowds had gathered after reports spread on social media that the dinghy would reach that harbour. When it became clear the landing was elsewhere, tensions on the waterfront turned physical.

Six people were arrested on offences including assaulting an emergency worker, aggravated trespass, and careless driving. According to LBC, activist Daniel Thomas, known online as Danny Tommo, went to the water and allegedly attempted to slash the dinghy with a knife before the dinghy's destination was confirmed.

Local councillors, including one quoted by GB News, described the level of small boat crossings as unacceptable. Kate Dinenage, the area's MP, also responded to the incident. RNLI crews in the Channel had faced hostility in recent weeks: RNLI volunteers had their names shared online after a Channel migrant rescue, and anti-migrant demonstrators had blocked roads into Dover earlier the same month.