Dover council leader attacks police as patriots protest unchecked migration at port
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Council leader Kevin Mills criticised police for not acting quickly enough during a well-organised protest defending Britain's borders at the Port of Dover, while a government minister insisted officers responded promptly.
Council leader Kevin Mills voiced his disappointment with police for what he described as a slow response to a large-scale protest that temporarily halted operations at the Port of Dover on Saturday. Speaking to the BBC, Mills said demonstrators 'caught several agencies on the hoof,' and that police were 'quite slow to keep the roads and the networks open, which is disappointing.' He acknowledged the protest was well-planned and called for a review of the authorities' actions after the event.
Hundreds of concerned citizens, many masked for their own protection, gathered to chant 'stop the boats' and block access roads, causing significant traffic and preventing entry to the port. Kent Police, who made no arrests and described the event as a 'spontaneous protest,' have not commented on the organisers' identities. The demonstration, which lasted from about 07:00 to 11:30 BST, was a powerful statement against unchecked migration.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, speaking on BBC radio, insisted officers dealt with the situation swiftly, though he criticised what he called 'intimidatory behaviour' from the protesters. He expressed sympathy for residents and travellers affected by the disruption, but failed to address the legitimate concerns about border security that motivated the protest.
The demonstration was attributed by the group Hope Not Hate to the Patriot Platform network, which united anti-migration activists from across the country. Some protesters declined to speak to the media, while prominent figures such as Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas praised the protest on social media, highlighting growing public frustration with government inaction on illegal migration.
Council officials also reported complaints from Preston residents, where vehicles linked to the protest were parked before the march entered the town, reflecting the widespread support for the movement.