Police to crack down on face coverings at protests

Protesters in Dover wearing black balaclavas — Image caption,

Hampshire police plan to crack down on face coverings at protests

ByCurtis LancasterSouth of England

Police have announced plans to crack down on the use of masks and balaclavas at a planned protest in Portsmouth.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said it would use new powers under the Crime and Policing Act to prevent people involved in protest activity from wearing face coverings that conceal their identity.

The measures will apply in parts of the city from 10:00 BST on Saturday until Sunday morning, with anyone breaching the restrictions potentially facing arrest.

Officers said the powers were aimed at preventing violence, intimidation and disorder following protests in the city over the past week.

A row of police officers in high vis and holding shields stood facing crowds. — Image caption,

Police officers were deployed to Portsmouth on Sunday evening

This comes after masked demonstrators were seen at anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend.

A separate order will also allow officers to require people to remove masks and other items used to conceal their identity.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Bartolomeo said: “It is important to stress that this power will apply to any groups that attend the protest and will be enforced equally and impartially.

“Let me be clear, these powers are not being implemented to prevent protest, but they are being used to help prevent crime and disorder, while making communities feel safer.”

A 42-year-old man was charged on suspicion of violent disorder and assaulting a police officer following the anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth.

Police attended Eastney Marina on Sunday night after hundreds of demonstrators blocked roads in an attempt to stop coaches carrying 120 migrants, who had crossed the Channel in a dinghy, from leaving the city.

Del Leon Somerville from Paulsgrove remains in custody and will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson called it the “first of several” arrests expected to be made as part of the investigation.

The police said several of its vehicles, alongside those of the coastguard and Border Force, were damaged during the disruption, which lasted until the early hours of Monday.

It added that a small number of officers were treated at the scene for injuries, but no-one in attendance was seriously injured.

Rowlinson said: “We have been consistently clear that violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest and we will investigate incidents like this thoroughly and take robust action against those responsible.

“Clearly events on Sunday evening were not peaceful protest, rather violent public disorder, and this will not be tolerated as we work to keep our wider communities in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight safe.”

He also pointed out the force will not tolerate abuse aimed at police or partner agencies online.

This comes after RNLI volunteers were targeted on social media.

“We will work with our colleagues across policing to address any online threats that are made,” Rowlinson said.

“This arrest also sends a clear warning to anyone intent on causing disruption and disorder at any future events. If you break the law we will take action against you and where it is feasible to do so seek a prosecution.”

The disorder in Portsmouth followed a separate anti-migrant protest at the Port of Dover the day before.