Masked protesters disrupt traffic at Britain's busiest ferry port in Dover, UK

Hundreds of masked men blocked roads leading to the Port of Dover on Saturday, chanting “stop the boats” and bringing traffic to a standstill for hours in an anti-immigration protest.

According to the BBC, Dover District Council leader Kevin Mills criticised the police response, saying officers appeared to be slow to keep roads and access routes open. He described the demonstration as “exceptionally well organised” and said protesters had “caught several agencies on the hoof”.

“The protesters knew what they were doing, I’m not sure the police did know what was going to happen,” Mills was quoted as saying by the BBC, while acknowledging that police resources were stretched.

The protest began around 7am and lasted until about 11.30am, with masked demonstrators dressed largely in black blocking key roads and linking arms across routes leading to the port. Their chants included “stop the boats”, referring to migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

The Port of Dover said traffic entering and leaving the port had been stopped because of an ongoing “public order incident”. National Highways said the blockade caused a traffic jam of about four miles, disrupting passengers and freight traffic.

Kent Police described the gathering as a “spontaneous protest” and said officers were engaging with demonstrators. No arrests were made. Mills said the council had also received complaints from residents in nearby Preston, where protesters allegedly left their vehicles before travelling to Dover. Conservative councillor Chris Vinson said the men appeared to have arrived in rental vans.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds condemned the protest, telling the BBC that peaceful protest was an essential part of British life but that the “intimidatory behaviour” witnessed in Dover was unacceptable. The demonstration came amid an ongoing political row in Britain over migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. Dover has previously witnessed anti-immigration protests over the issue.

Anti-hate organisation Hope Not Hate claimed the Patriot Platform network had organised the demonstration, saying it had brought together members of anti-migrant groups from across the country. Police have not confirmed who was behind the protest. Far-right activists Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas praised those involved on social media. Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe also backed people “peacefully protesting against illegal immigration”, although he described the use of balaclavas as undesirable.

According to news agency AP, the Port of Dover, about 70 miles southeast of London, handled more than 9 million passengers and around 2 million freight vehicles in 2025.