Home Office refuses to rule out letting more Channel migrants land in Gosport despite furious protests

The Home Office has declined to rule out future Channel migrant landings in Gosport or Portsmouth, despite protests and a council motion seeking to exclude Gosport. The uncertainty matters locally because demonstrations have caused disruption and raised concerns about public and police safety.

Small boats have crossed from Normandy three times in six weeks. On 4 October, 149 people arrived in Gosport on RNLI lifeboats; an earlier incident involved 140 migrants brought ashore at Eastney in Portsmouth. Hampshire Police incurred an £800,000 policing bill, and several protesters have been sentenced for offences linked to the unrest. The Home Office says arrivals will be taken to Manston for checks and that it has contingency plans, but it has not disclosed further operational details.