Police Slow to Respond to Dover Protest, Says Council Leader

A protest by hundreds of masked men brought roads around the Port of Dover to a standstill, and the leader of Dover District Council said police were slow to respond.

Kevin Mills described the demonstration as “exceptionally well organised” and said protesters “caught several agencies on the hoof” when they arrived on Saturday. The group blocked roads and prevented access to the port, creating miles of traffic queues. The protest lasted from 07:00 BST until about 11:30.

“

The protesters knew what they were doing, I'm not sure the police did know what was going to happen.

Mills said police appeared slow to keep roads and transport networks open. “The protesters knew what they were doing, I'm not sure the police did know what was going to happen,” he told the BBC, while acknowledging that police resources were stretched. He said no one had actually known what was happening that morning and that the response needed a full review.

“

Peaceful protest is an essential part of British life but that is not what we saw there with that kind of intimidatory behaviour.

Cabinet minister Jonathan Reynolds gave a different assessment, saying officers had dealt with the demonstration swiftly. He condemned the protest, arguing that peaceful protest was an essential part of British life but that the “intimidatory behaviour” in Dover did not qualify. He said he felt sorry for residents and others disrupted by the blockade.

Police had not commented on who organized the protest. Anti-hate organization Hope Not Hate said the Patriot Platform network arranged it, bringing together members of anti-migrant groups from across the country. Demonstrators declined to speak to the BBC, although some shouted “send them back” and “stop the boats.”

“

They want to exploit their online following and take money from the people willing to follow them online, and that's what that agenda is.

Far-right activists Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas praised the protesters online. Thomas said local women and residents were thankful that people were taking action, and praised the group's discipline. Reynolds accused Robinson and similar figures of exploiting their online followings rather than solving the country's problems.

“

The experience on the ground today, was the overwhelming majority of the women and local people we spoke to were thankful that people were actually doing something.