How Hampshire became a focus in the Channel migrant debate

The focus on small boat crossings until now has been largely on Kent but, after vessels began heading for the Hampshire coast a few weeks ago, national attention has turned to Portsmouth and Gosport.

On 6 September, 140 migrants were brought ashore at Eastney in Portsmouth after attempting to cross from Normandy, sparking anti-migrant protests in the city.

Two weeks later, on 22 September, migrants were intercepted south of the Isle of Wight. More than 100 protesters gathered in Gosport after reports they were being brought to the town but the lifeboats were ultimately diverted to Dover.

On 4 October, a third boat left Normandy bound for the Hampshire coast, with 150 migrants on board.

They were brought to Fort Blockhouse, a former military site at the southern tip of the Gosport peninsula, before being taken by coach to a processing centre in Kent.

The shortest crossing of the English Channel is from Calais to Dover but that is also where the UK Border Force has historically focused its efforts.

Attempts to cross from Normandy have been rare but migrants have been attempting longer, more dangerous crossings in the past few years, setting off from a wider stretch of French coast.

In April, a new deal was signed with the French to help stop illegal migrants from making the journey.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the fact "the gangs are trying different things, different routes, different vessels was a sign government policy to disrupt them was working".

But he acknowledged it was "difficult" for those living in Hampshire.

On 29 September, the Home Office said Border Security Command officials had been "reassured" by their French counterparts that they remained "fully committed to preventing small boat launches" and would be "increasing their focus and activity along the western coast in light of this week's events".

It added that wherever landings happen, all migrants were transported to short-term holding facilities in Kent, where they were processed and underwent stringent health, security and biometric checks.

The Home Office has said French authorities are becoming more effective at stopping small boats in the Channel from reaching the UK, deploying new techniques to stop them leaving French beaches.

The UK-France Border Security deal agreed in April under the Starmer government, includes £501m over three years to strengthen operations in northern France and £161m for new approaches.

Previously, most launched dinghies have been allowed to head towards the UK because of the risk to officers and civilians when intercepting overcrowded vessels in deep water.

French police and firefighters are allowed to intervene in shallow water to rescue people who appear to be in imminent danger.

Maritime officials report that many migrants only choose to be rescued after they have entered British waters.

Currently, sending them back to France would be unlawful under international law.

After the landing at Eastney and significant protests, the Home Office had to consider where an alternative emergency landing could take place.

As a former military site, Fort Blockhouse was considered secure, with the landing pontoon not accessible to the public.

There is also a large area where emergency services and coaches can park.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage and the leader of Gosport Borough Council, Zoe Huggins, have both warned that the access route over a single track bridge and restricted road access on the peninsula, made the site unsuitable.

They said it was impossible to ensure the safety of the area if anti-migrant groups chose to target it.

As protesters gathered on the night of 22 September, lifeboats with rescued migrants on board diverted to Dover.

However, on 4 October, the rescue vessels landed at Fort Blockhouse.

The Home Office has refused to say why Gosport was chosen on this occasion, saying previously it does not comment on "operational processes".

The Border Force uses a core fleet of patrol boats, known as "cutters", to protect UK waters, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

But Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has said the boats are not suitable for intercepting migrant dinghies in the English Channel.

She has called on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to ensure the Border Force is equipped with appropriate vessels to safely intercept boats mid-Channel and transfer migrants directly to Dover by water, avoiding the use of coastguard lifeboats.

The Home Office told the BBC it would not comment on operational matters.

In an effort to stop protesters travelling to Fort Blockhouse, police implemented a dispersal order under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to cover the town of Gosport.

The order gave Hampshire Police officers the power to make a person leave the area with no return before 07:00 BST on 7 October.

Those who refused to comply would be committing a criminal offence and liable for arrest.

Hampshire's Reform UK leader George Madgwick has written to Jones and the chief constable to give notice of a possible judicial review into the decision to issue the order.

Reform said the force could have overreached its powers, with the party's leader saying it "essentially put 80,000 people in lockdown".

Jones' office told the BBC that Madgwick's letter was "predominantly about operational police matters", adding: "The Commissioner has referred the letter to the Chief Constable and asked him to reply to Cllr Madgwick."

According to Jones, 227 police officers had to be brought in from six forces on 4 October at a cost of more than £200,000.

The PCC said policing anti-migrant protests was costing an estimated £1m a month and has asked the Home Secretary to compensate the Hampshire force, adding that it was taking frontline officers away from answering 999 calls.

Before the Labour Party conference, the PM promised to "have a conversation" with Hampshire Police about the pressures they face in policing protests.

That meeting has not yet taken place.

There have been other costs from the protests too.

On Monday morning in Gosport, street cleaning teams from the borough council were deployed to clear nails from the road and replace burnt out wheelie bins.

The Home Office has said the government has established contingency plans to deal with small boat arrivals further along the coastline from Kent.

It did not give details of where, but it is not believed to be Hampshire.

The change in weather could mean there is less chance of a crossing for now.

The level of small boat crossings has historically dropped significantly at this time of year, with October 2025 seeing about half the number of people arriving compared to the previous month.

The government says year-to-date arrivals are approximately 42% lower than the same point last year, while the number of boats has now fallen to 49% below last year's levels.