Portsmouth avoided a replay of last weekend's violence after a large police deployment contained far-right marches and led to three arrests, officials said. The show of force and measures to keep rival groups apart were credited with preventing assaults on officers and damage to police vehicles that had occurred the previous weekend.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary detained two men and a 16-year-old boy. Officers identified a 76-year-old man from Southampton, held on suspicion of concealing his identity; a 33-year-old man from Portsmouth, arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway; and a 16-year-old boy from Portsmouth, arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in connection with disturbances on Sunday.
Police set separate assembly zones and directed organisers and counter-demonstrators along a route that ended at Guildhall Square. Officers warned that protesters wearing face coverings could be arrested under powers in the Crime and Policing Act, and the force said, "We will support those who want to express their views peacefully and lawfully, but we will not tolerate those whose only aim is to create fear and incite violence."
Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said authorities did not witness a repeat of the assaults on officers and damage to police vehicles seen on Sunday and described the day as largely peaceful. "The people of Portsmouth deserve to go about their business without fear and disruption," she added, and said she would ensure the power to require uncovered faces was used proportionately.
The anti-immigration march included participants carrying union flags and some wearing Portsmouth Patriot clothing. A separate counter-demonstration urged support for refugees and displayed banners such as "RNLI are heroes, no one is illegal," while some protesters chanted "stop the boats."
Similar segregation of rival groups took place in Glasgow, where events on Glasgow Green featured the Pink Ladies and opposing groups including Stand Up To Racism, separated by a heavy police presence. Ch Supt Stevie Dolan warned of a "strong response" to any violence, as several rightwing figures attended the Pink Ladies rally.
Police and local officials linked the protests to the interception last Sunday of a small boat carrying 140 people, saying the arrival prompted renewed anti-immigration mobilisation in the city. Authorities also noted that small boat crossings have fallen by more than 40% compared with the same period last year, adding that the Home Office has disrupted parts of the smugglers' business model and smugglers have shifted to launching from parts of the French coast much farther from the UK. Officials framed the day's policing as a test of whether substantial anti-migrant mobilisations in port towns can be managed without further disorder.
