𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A total of 12 people were arrested with suspects including 11 men aged between 22 and 59, and one 57-year-old woman. “We had 11 different police support units coming from six different police forces,” Donna Jones said, according to Portsmouth News. “It would have cost over £200,000 on Sunday alone.” The PCC added that she fears there will be more protests in the county, and the cost will escalate to nearly £1million a month.

Ms Jones added that the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, should pay compensation to the county and make sure that UK Border Force is able to land migrants straight down to Dover without having to bring them to the coastline along southern England and Hampshire.

Reform UK’s Gosport group leader, Councillor Paul Carter, also said Sunday’s operation cost taxpayers more than £200,000, also suggesting that £250,000 was spent policing Gosport and Eastney last month. He accused the police of overusing of a Section 34 dispersal order.

“Gosport residents deserve to know why a town of over 80,000 people were subjected to such sweeping and extraordinary measures, leaving residents unable to access their own homes and local businesses stripped of customers,” he said. The councillor warned that the area cannot afford a repeat of recent events.

The leader of Reform UK in Hampshire, Councillor George Madgwick posted on X: “Hampshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner just confirmed the Police response to the illegal migrant arrivals in Gosport, Portsmouth Harbour on Sunday cost over £200,000 to the taxpayer! That doesn’t include ambulance, local council clean up, coastguard, coach and travel costs.

“Disgusting. For 149 undocumented people. That’s before they get to their hotels with 3 meals a day. Honestly what a joke.”

The Express contacted Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary for comment.