Three charged following migrant boat protest in Gosport
Hampshire Police have charged three people after a protest broke out in Gosport over reports that a Channel-crossing migrant boat might land there. Six people were arrested, though the 51 migrants aboard were ultimately taken to Dover instead.
A protest took place in the English town of Gosport on Tuesday evening after reports emerged that a group of migrants who had crossed the English Channel could be brought ashore there. Hampshire Police deployed officers to help ensure the protest remained peaceful, to protect the local community, and to support other agencies in case of any emergency at sea.
Six people were arrested during the evening on suspicion of various offences, including assault of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence. In the end, the migrants' boat, which had travelled from France, was intercepted, and all 51 people aboard were taken to Dover rather than Gosport.
Charges brought
Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. Sally Pearson, 31, also of Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence. Both women have been remanded in custody and are due to appear before Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on Thursday.
Toby Matthews, 33, also of Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He has been released on bail and is due in court on 9 November.
Two further men, aged 19 and 36, both from Salisbury, were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and have been bailed with conditions until 22 December while the investigation continues. A 67-year-old Gosport man was issued a fixed penalty notice for careless driving and was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker; he has been bailed with conditions until 22 December.
