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Protest over migration planned in Dover, announced by Pembrokeshire Patriot

A demonstration against migration has been announced for this month.

It is due to take place in Dover at 1pm on Saturday, May 29.

The protests demand high levels of police resources. Dover, last September 5 . Picture: Kevin Clark
The protests demand high levels of police resources. Dover, last September 5 . Picture: Kevin Clark

The protest is being advertised on a Facebook page called Pembrokeshire Patriot but the identity of the actual organisers is still to be confirmed.

The page has an online poster declaring the action and showing the White Cliffs of Dover with the South Foreland Lighthouse.

It has the words: "Protect Our Borders. Dover Demo Sat 29th May 1pm" and describes the visit as a "demo against illegal immigration."

By Friday 22 people announced they were going and 118 people were interested.

There is a YouTube link with an unidentified man speaking also announcing the protest.

The protest in Dover last September 5.Picture: Barry Goodwin
The protest in Dover last September 5.Picture: Barry Goodwin

He says: "There's been a demo called down at Dover on 29.5.2021. We need as many boots on the ground as we can to stop this.

"We need to get the message out there."

The page includes articles on the subject of asylum seekers.

This includes the news on Thursday (the holy festival of Eid) of a mass of protesters blocking the van of Home Office Immigration Enforcement officials who detained two Indian men in Glasgow.

Far right members perpae to march..Kent Anti-Racism Network (KARN) is holding a 'solidarity stand' in Market Square in support of migrants..But far right groups had threatened that they will turn up to disrupt the meeting..Picture: Barry Goodwin. (47176142)
Far right members perpae to march..Kent Anti-Racism Network (KARN) is holding a 'solidarity stand' in Market Square in support of migrants..But far right groups had threatened that they will turn up to disrupt the meeting..Picture: Barry Goodwin. (47176142)

Pembrokeshire Patriot condemned the fact that the men were released.

The page also relays incidents of asylum seekers arriving in Kent.

Chief Insp Daniel Carter, District Commander for Dover, told KentOnline: "Kent Police is aware of potential plans for an event in Dover on Saturday, May 29.

"We will liaise with organisers to make them aware of their duty to comply with relevant legislation, including rules to prevent the spread of Covid-19."

Ben Bano, from the Deal pro-asylum seeker group Seeking Sanctuary, said: 'This proposed demonstration is very unhelpful and will only serve to inflame tensions as happened at the previous demonstration.

Pro-refugee counter-protestors at the last march in Dover, on September 5
Pro-refugee counter-protestors at the last march in Dover, on September 5

"This will also lead to the deployment of hard pressed police resources.

"It should be remembered that it is not illegal to cross the Channel with an intention to claim asylum with UK authorities as happens in most cases.

"In the absence of safe and legal ways of claiming asylum in the UK, asylum seekers are forced to take to often flimsy boats to make the dangerous crossing.

"Unfortunately, given the current instability and war torn areas in so many parts of our world it is likely that these attempts will continue.

"And to put our situation into context, between Sunday and Wednesday of this week more than 2,000 migrants landed on the small Italian island of Lampedusa where the authorities are having to meet their immediate needs."

Asylum seekers arrive at Dover last month. Picture: Chris Johnson
Asylum seekers arrive at Dover last month. Picture: Chris Johnson

Marches concerning asylum seekers have regularly been held in Dover, usually with far right protesters in the past coming from outside the town.

They have led to disruption with road closures and traffic hold-ups and on some occasions violence between the demonstrators and counter-protesters.

The last such protest in the town was on September 5 when 10 people were arrested for offences such as obstruction and public order.

The most infamous case in Dover was on January 30, 2016, when a march ended in full-scale rioting.

One of the ugliest scenes that day was when the rival factions threw stones at each other from either end of Effingham Street.

The far right march in January 2016 led to rioting Picture: Alan Langley KMG
The far right march in January 2016 led to rioting Picture: Alan Langley KMG

It led to convictions of 64 people and jail sentences totalling 85 years being imposed by the courts, some suspended.

Over the last few years there has been a continual trend of asylum seekers trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain in small boats.

They are regularly picked up at sea by the UK's Border Force and brought to Dover Western Docks to be checked, interviewed, processed and then driven to various parts of the country.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has been seen as particularly outspoken on the issue.

In March she outlined new laws, which would allow people who enter the UK within the law to be given the right to remain here.

Those who entered illegally would not have the same entitlements.

KentOnline has contacted Pembrokeshire Patriots who have since stressed that they have promoted but not organised the march.

Read more:All the latest news from Dover

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