Hundreds of anti-migrant demonstrators have marched through a Hampshire coastal town that is scheduled to host a redeveloped immigration removal centre.
Protesters gathered in Gosport on Sunday afternoon, carrying England and Union flags while chanting "deport the lot" and "remigration now".
According to posts on social media, the event was organised by the "Gosport Patriots" in opposition to "undocumented men being held" at the local Haslar Immigration Removal Centre (IRC).
A static counter-protest involving dozens of people took place near the town’s ferry port, featuring placards reading "fight ignorance, not immigrants" and "refugees welcome, celebrate diversity".
Police officers deployed horses and vans to keep the opposing groups separated.
Temporary police powers banning face coverings were enforced across designated areas of Gosport on Sunday, with the demonstrations passing largely peacefully.
Some 12 people were arrested earlier this month at a protest against the arrival of migrants in the town after a small boat crossing.
Around 350 anti-migrant demonstrators gathered near Haslar Marina in Gosport following reports that authorities were preparing for the arrival of the vessel.
Similar scenes unfolded in the town in September when protesters gathered as they expected a landing after coaches and ambulances were spotted nearby.
The demonstration follows heightened scrutiny over migrant arrivals to the UK, where similar anti-immigration protests have flared up across coastal towns including Dover and Portsmouth.
The Home Office said earlier this year it was proceeding with plans to open a redeveloped immigration removal centre next year at the former Haslar IRC, which was closed in 2015.
The Home Office said the centre would be a “mixture of refurbished and new-build accommodation built to the latest standards, taking account of findings from external scrutiny reports and internal lessons learned reviews to provide modern, safe, secure accommodation for detained men”.
It said around 130 bed spaces will be created through the refurbishment of the existing accommodation, compared with 198 places at the former IRC when it was closed down.
Subject to planning permission and necessary approvals, a second phase of the project would provide around 470 additional places, increasing Haslar’s total capacity to around 600.
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