Gosport Migrant Landing Plan Abandoned in Huge U-Turn After Protester Fury

Immigration chiefs have abandoned plans to land Channel migrants in Gosport following intense demonstrations, opting instead to divert the group to Dover. According to the Daily Express, the sudden U-turn came after hundreds of protesters gathered in the Hampshire naval town.

Immigration officials initially decided to take dozens of Channel arrivals into Gosport rather than travelling further along the coast. However, the plan was scrapped amid rising fury from demonstrators and pleas from local leaders.

Hampshire Police confirmed that officers were deployed to Gosport and Portsmouth as a precaution. Police stated they were on the scene to support partners, facilitate peaceful protest, and ensure public safety following hostile clashes.

The boat involved had spent a staggering thirty-three hours at sea before being intercepted south of Portsmouth by two RNLI vessels. The French coastguard reported that the dinghy left a beach near Vierville-sur-Mer in Normandy and refused help, remaining determined to reach the United Kingdom.

• Immigration chiefs scrapped plans to bring migrants ashore in Gosport.
• Hundreds of protesters and riot police gathered in the Hampshire town.
• The dinghy spent thirty-three hours at sea before RNLI interception.
• Officials ultimately diverted the small boat group to Dover instead.

The decision to abandon the Gosport landing follows chaotic scenes in Portsmouth earlier this month. Authorities ultimately changed tactics, concluding that the migrants would be taken to Dover in Kent.

Original source: Read the full report at Daily Express