Policing of protests in Southampton

As the evenings become lighter once again and with protests continuing outside Highfield House Hotel, I wanted to take some time reassure people of our commitments and talk about some of the powers we continue to use so people can freely express their opinions.

As police officers, we are not in attendance at protests to debate the issues or to take any stance; decisions on policy or the hotel's use are not ones made by the police. It is our role to facilitate such gatherings while keeping in mind the safety of the wider general public.

But we have also been quite clear that should this begin to become anti-social behaviour, or should you act outside of the law, then we will deal with this in the most appropriate way. This could be through the use of a dispersal order, which allows us to order someone to leave a designated area, it could require our officers in attendance to make an arrest, or our investigation teams may review footage following any protest to ensure proportionate action is taken.

I know there has been concern from some that our use of the powers available to us has been an attempt to restrict or prevent you from gathering to protest, and I want to categorically say that this is not the truth of the matter. We are committed to maintaining and upholding the right of each of you to gather and have your voice heard.

It is pleasing that since the protests began last summer, we have only had a small number of incidents which have required further investigation, and I hope you would all agree that we want this to remain the position as we move forward.

Superintendent Alex Charge
District Commander for Southampton

I want to thank everyone who attended the two marches in Southampton yesterday (March 1) and the wider public for their patience as we escorted the two groups on their routes into the city centre.

It was pleasing that no incidents occurred during the events, with all attending focused on lawfully exercising their right to have their voice heard, while also working with our commanders to ensure minimal disruption to other people's days.

During the marches, we did have to temporarily divert traffic in some roads as the groups moved along their routes, which was to ensure they did not become blocked.

I know there are some who do question why the police need to be present for such events, and the answer is because we have a duty to do so; for the safety of those attending, and of our wider community.

We will continue to ensure the law is upheld impartially at these events, without fear or favour, and that people's right to gather is maintained.

While we had no incidents during the marches on Sunday, our teams did have to use dispersal powers prior to them beginning. Officers identified three people arriving at the initial gatherings, who were already shouting about starting fights. These three men were not from Hampshire, and a decision was made to implement and enforce a dispersal order to ensure they left the area without being able to follow through on their stated plans.

Our position remains the same as it has been since protests began last summer. We have no wish to prevent people's lawful right to gather and have their voice heard, but where this strays into anti-social or other criminal behaviour, then we will take the appropriate action.

Thank you again to all who attended for working with our officers on Sunday and to the wider community for your patience and understanding.

Superintendent Alex Charge
District Commander for Southampton

We have been informed of plans for two marches which will be taking place in Southampton this Sunday (March 1) and I wanted to take this opportunity to once again share our commitment to upholding people's right to gather and also to our local communities, whose safety is always a priority.

On the day, we have been advised of a march starting in Abbotts Way, passing along The Avenue, London Road and Above Bar Street, before concluding in Guildhall Square.

We have also been informed of a second march, with the group meeting in Portswood Road, before walking along Onslow Road and ending in East Park.

Since protests began in Portswood last summer, our position has been very clear. Our role is not to take sides or pass judgement on a cause, but to facilitate your right to gather and express your views freely and lawfully.

During the organisation of this weekend's marches, we have liaised closely with the two groups to discuss their plans and ensure these have the least impact possible on the wider community, and that each can be safely facilitated.

The commanders overseeing the planning and policing of these events undertake careful reviews of the number of attendees we may expect, the suitability of proposed routes and what safety measures the groups themselves are putting in place, as well as ensuring we have the right number of officers, with the right skillsets, on duty and present to manage them.

As well as considering the upcoming event, we also undertake regular reviews of previous protests and marches, to look at what we may have done differently with hindsight and what changes we need to make in the future.

I am pleased that we still have only had a small number of incidents linked to protests and marches in the city since the summer, but want to remind everyone attending this weekend that should your behaviour move from a lawful expression of your views into anti-social or criminal behaviour, then we will take action.

If you do have any concerns on the day, then please speak to one of the officers who will be present and highly visible.

Superintendent Alex Charge
District Commander for Southampton

As we move into the new year, I wanted to reaffirm our commitment to you all to continue facilitating protest and dispel some rumours and speculation which have been circulating of late.

Last week, we held our first Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting of 2026 in Portswood, where a larger than normal number attended, wishing to discuss the hotel and protests.

Firstly, these meetings have been a regular, quarterly part of our local neighbourhood engagements for some time - and to reassure local residents, we have no plans to cancel these.

These meetings are a place local residents can come and discuss any concerns they have - such as anti-social behaviour, speeding, or parking concerns - with the local neighbourhood policing team and community safety officers from the council.

Ahead of last week's meeting, we became aware that people had been informed this PACT meeting was to discuss protests and the hotel, however this was not the case and any flyers or information shared about this being so was not done by us.

During the course of the meeting, we wanted to ensure local residents who do attend these meetings more regularly were able to raise any issues or ask questions they would have wished, while also trying to allow for those who attended specifically to discuss the hotel and protests a chance to raise their questions as well.

As a Constabulary, we have been really clear from the outset, our role here is not to take sides in a debate, and decisions regarding the hotel's use are not for us to make. We will, though, continue to uphold people's right to express their views and gather to protest lawfully.

You may not agree with the views expressed by people attending protests, and could find their opinion upsetting or offensive, but this does not mean that those people will have committed an offence.

To be clear though, if people do participate in behaviour which is anti-social or could be viewed as a public order offence, then we have and will continue to investigate these.

I know these protests can disrupt local residents' lives, and they do come with a range of emotions, but we are committed to ensuring these can be facilitated safely - for those attending and the wider public - and that this disruption can be kept to the minimum possible for the community.

Superintendent Alex Charge, District Commander for Southampton

Our local policing team have authorised a dispersal order which will be in operation this afternoon and evening (Friday 19 December) in Portswood.

The orders are being used as part of our policing operation for protests in Highfield Lane, and allows officers to order anyone behaving in an anti-social or unlawful manner to leave the area.

The order will be in place today from 2:00pm through to 12:00am on Saturday.

It covers Highfield Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, Portswood High Street, and down to Thomas Lewis Way.

Everyone has the right to freedom of speech and to engage in lawful protest, however if you do choose to behave anti-socially or outside the confines of the law, then we will take action.

Our priority when policing gatherings such as this is public safety, and we continue to liaise with organisers, along with the community and our local partner organisations.

During a protest in Highfield Lane, Portswood, on Friday (December 12), officers arrested one person.

A 17-year-old boy from Southampton was arrested on suspicion of common assault of an emergency worker, criminal damage and attempt criminal damage.

He was subsequently released on bail while our investigation continued.

The incident occurred after a protestor was pushed and officers intervened to prevent any further issues.

Officers from our local neighbourhood policing team authorised a section 34 dispersal order, which was in place during Sunday's (November 30) protest in Portswood.

As part of our duty to facilitate lawful protest and ensure the safety of all attending and those passing through the area, we will have officers in attendance at protests. This includes our local neighbourhood PCs, PCSOs and other specialist teams such as Evidence Gathering officers, whose responsibility it is to get footage of any alleged incidents for review after the protest is done.

During the gathering last weekend, our teams used the dispersal order in place on two occasions, ordering a 17-year-old boy and 42-year-old man both from Southampton, to leave the designated area and not return. 

If you were in attendance, this may initially have looked to be officers conducting an arrest. When a dispersal order is used, a person is asked for their details and should they refuse then they may be arrested, however if they then provide their information, then officers can cease this and utilise the dispersal order as originally planned.

No arrests were made at the protest on Sunday.

Our local policing team have authorised a dispersal order which will be in operation this evening (November 28) and Sunday (November 30) in Portswood.

The orders are being used as part of our policing operation for protests in Highfield Lane, and allows officers to order anyone behaving in an anti-social or unlawful manner to leave the area.

We have utilised these orders for the past two Fridays, with one person ordered to leave the area last week after behaving in an intimidating manner towards another member of the public.

Tonight, the order will be in place from 4pm through to 9pm, while on Sunday it will operate between 2pm and 9pm.

It covers Highfield Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, Portswood High Street, and down to Thomas Lewis Way.

Everyone has the right to freedom of speech and to engage in lawful protest, however if you do choose to behave anti-socially or outside the confines of the law, then we will take action.

Our priority when policing gatherings such as this is public safety, and we continue to liaise with organisers, along with the community and our local partner organisations.

As part of our policing operation on Friday evening (November 21), officers made one arrest and used the dispersal order in place to request one person to move away from the area.

A man in his 30s was ordered to leave the area, after he was observed behaving in a manner believed to be intended to intimidate people.

Following this, a 47-year-old man from Southampton was seen displaying inappropriate messages on a sign.

Our teams initially sought to deal with this through the use of the dispersal order, however he subsequently had to be arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled drug of class B, failing to give a name or address, and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He has been released on bail while our enquiries continue.

During a protest, we will utilise an Evidence Gathering Team, who record footage from the gathering which is then carefully reviewed to determine if any offences have been committed by anyone attending. Should any offences be identified, then we will take appropriate action against those people.

Ahead of a planned protest tonight (November 21) in Portswood, our local policing team have had a dispersal order authorised in order to support our operation and allow us to deal with anyone who behaves in an anti-social manner.

The order allows our officers to instruct anyone behaving unlawfully, or outside of the confines of a lawful protest, to leave the designated area, and not return.

Should you then return to the area after having been told to leave, you could then be arrested. The dispersal order will be in place from 4pm through until 9pm today.

The dispersal zone is the same as the one implemented last Friday, covering Highfield Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, Portswood High Street, and down to Thomas Lewis Way.

When implemented last Friday, our officers did not have to utilise the power and order anyone to leave the area.

Our priority when policing gatherings such as this is public safety, and we continue to liaise with organisers, along with the community and our local partner organisations.

As the district commander for Southampton, I wanted to write an open letter to all who live, work and study in our city, which I hope will give you an insight into our role as police officers when it comes to protest and our commitments to everyone.

Since the summer, we have seen protests relating to immigration outside the Highfield House Hotel in Portswood, along with marches in the city. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy in the UK, protected by law and important in upholding everyone's freedom of expression.

We, as police officers, have, on occasion, been asked why we facilitate gatherings, or allow people to gather in certain locations. The answer to this is a simple one: we do so because it is our duty. We are here to uphold the law impartially, policing without fear or favour, and protecting the rights of those who wish to protest whilst also ensuring the safety of those gathering and the wider community.

Facilitating protest does not mean we take a side in any debate. When allegations are made against any individual residing at the hotel, we have investigated these, likewise when concerns are raised about the behaviour of those gathering to protest, we have and continue to carry out enquiries into this; always seeking to ensure the appropriate action is taken.

However, it is important to understand that people exercising their freedom of speech isn't always a crime, although you may disagree with their belief or opinion, and may find it upsetting or offensive. I also want to reiterate that where protest does move over into anti-social behaviour, then we will use our powers to deal with this, as we have done recently in Portswood High Street during one of the protests.

Those who oversee our policing response to these events undergo stringent training and continual professional development, focused on helping them make important decisions in extremely complex situations, all the while balancing the relevant sections of the Human Rights Act and ensuring public safety.

For each protest, our commanders carry out an assessment of the intelligence available to us from the community and from our liaison with protest groups, they seek to ensure we have the right number of officers, with the right skill sets, on duty, and, as I hope you will have seen when we had the large march in the city, if we do foresee the potential for disorder, we will utilise the appropriate powers to manage this. But, these powers do have a high bar, so they are only used at the right time.

So far, since the summer, we have had a very small number of offences linked to the protests reported to us, but if you do witness anything then please do report this to us.

I understand that protests can be challenging. They can disrupt your daily life, stir emotions, and sometimes test people's patience. But I ask for your understanding.

Our role is not to judge the cause, but to uphold the principle that everyone has the right to be heard.

Supt Alex Charge
District Commander for Southampton