A minister has condemned disorder at an anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth after police officers were hurt during violence linked to the arrival of 120 migrants in a single dinghy.
Sarah Jones told MPs that the scenes were “intimidating and thuggish”, describing the unrest as unacceptable. Her comments came after the protest was sparked by the arrival of the migrants in the city.
The incident placed renewed attention on tensions surrounding migrant arrivals and the policing of demonstrations connected to the issue. The supplied account states that officers were injured, but does not give details of the number of officers hurt or the seriousness of their injuries.
Ms Jones’s remarks in Parliament represent the official response included in the available material. She directly criticised the disorder rather than the right to protest, characterising the violence as threatening and thuggish.
No further information was provided on whether arrests were made, whether anyone else was injured, or what action police may take next. The latest known position is that the minister has condemned the violence following the Portsmouth protest and the reported injuries to police officers.
