Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has called on the Government to prevent regular small boat landings on the Hampshire coast after saying policing operations linked to arrivals and protests have cost more than £800,000.
Jones said repeated demonstrations following the arrival of people who had crossed the English Channel had placed significant pressure on police resources. She has asked the Home Office to reimburse the full cost of policing operations and to ensure further landings do not become a regular occurrence.
The commissioner said she had received no response to an earlier letter sent after an incident on September 6, when hundreds of protesters blocked roads in Portsmouth during the arrival of coaches carrying around 140 migrants.
A further confrontation took place in Gosport on October 4, when 149 migrants were brought ashore aboard two RNLI lifeboats after travelling from Normandy.
Police resources
Jones said officers had faced abuse and assaults during the three events and that the cost of policing since the first small boat arrival in Hampshire had risen above £800,000.
“I have made a formal request to the Home Office for a full reimbursement and a commitment to reimburse all future deployments relating to small boat crossings, including protest activity,” she said. Pasted text
She also called for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to be included in future discussions between the Home Secretary and ministers over Channel crossings.
According to Jones, the most recent Gosport operation resulted in 12 arrests, including four for allegedly assaulting police officers and one for allegedly assaulting an emergency worker. She also said protesters had blocked routes used by emergency vehicles and coaches, while police reported improvised barricades and objects placed on roads.
Several people sentenced
A number of people have since appeared in court in connection with disorder linked to the protests.
Del Somerville, 42, from Paulsgrove, was sentenced to two years in prison for violent disorder, while Deano Ryan, 22, and Justin Dixon, 50, received suspended sentences for the same offence.
Shannon Dodds, 32, and Sally Pearson, 31, were also given suspended sentences after admitting assaults on police officers.
Concerns raised over RNLI volunteers
The policing controversy has also been accompanied by reports of abuse directed towards RNLI volunteers involved in bringing people ashore.
A letter presented to Portsmouth City Council claimed that children of two lifeboat crew members had experienced bullying because of their parents’ work with the charity. Volunteers were also reportedly confronted in public, while names and other personal details were published online.
The council subsequently debated support for the RNLI, with councillors condemning intimidation and threats directed at lifeboat crews.
Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson said he was “deeply concerned” about the reported abuse, while Councillor Billy Ansell said lifeboat volunteers responded to emergencies without considering a person’s nationality, religion or political views.
Jones is seeking further discussions with the Home Office over the future handling of small boat arrivals in Hampshire and the policing resources required when they occur.
