Portsmouth MP meets with Policing Minister following Eastney migrant arrival and disorder
Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan has met with the Policing Minister Sarah Jones to raise concerns about migrants being brought ashore in Eastney - and the resulting violent disorder.
The city's MP was able to share concerns voiced to him when speaking with residents, local businesses and neighbourhood officers during time in the area after the incident on September 6 and subsequent days.
Police officers worked alongside and assisted Border Force, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and the RNLI at Eastney following the arrival of a small boat crossing the Channel. Police officers were deployed to the area to ensure the safety of the public and to prevent disorder with more than 200 blocking the road.
Multiple police, Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged during the evening and seven police officers were treated at the scene for injuries, as reported by the Police Federation.
As part of the Constabulary’s extensive investigation following violent public disorder at Eastney , the police issued images of six men they would like to speak to as part of their enquiries, alongside making a number of arrests and charging several individuals.
In the days following, detectives have been reviewing hundreds of hours’ worth of footage from different sources that have been cross-referenced to identify offences committed.
Following the meeting with the Policing Minister, Mr Morgan, said: “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.
“That’s why the Constabulary’s actions and ongoing investigation into the violent disorder at Eastney on Sunday 6 September is to be welcomed.
“After seeing the damage done in our community firsthand, I pay tribute to the emergency services who managed the incident, and to all those who continue to take action as lessons are learnt.
“I welcomed the opportunity to discuss with the Policing Minister events at Eastney, support for our community to stay safe, and what the Government is doing on the hard and necessary work of bearing down on small boats crossings.
On small boat crossings, the Policing Minister, Sarah Jones MP, said: “This Government has remained committed to addressing small boat crossings, which is why our focus on tackling this issue at its source by smashing the gangs has been unrelenting.
“Progress is being made, but we are not complacent. We must and will be unrelenting, not least in response to any shift in tactics by the gangs.
“The use of larger boats, with over a hundred people crammed on board, is a clear cause for concern, and we remain alert to the potential for crossings on less frequently targeted stretches of water off our coastline.
“The gangs are never going to go quietly. They are responding to the impact our work is having, and we will adapt in turn, both in terms of our enforcement, in partnership with France, and our response here.”
The Home Office has said that this summer, small boat crossing have fallen to a six-year low. More than 80,000 people with no right to be in the UK have been returned, more than 48,000 crossings have been prevented and 105 major gangs have been disrupted.
Anyone who believes they may recognise the men identified by the police, or who may have information that can assist with the Constabulary’s enquiries is asked to come forward by calling 101, quoting reference 44260435943, or can also report online: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/