Dozens of demonstrators gathered in Dover, UK, to protest against what they perceive as uncontrolled migration, criticizing the government’s asylum policies and demanding tighter border controls.
The ‘Great British National Protest’ took place on Saturday, drawing large crowds along the Kent coastline. Participants waved Union Jack and England flags, chanting ‘Stop the boats’ as they marched through the town center. The demonstrators criticized the government’s asylum system, with some holding signs reading ‘Asylum frauds out’ and ‘Not racist, not far-right, not being listened to!’ One individual carried a provocative sign stating, ‘There is no far right, there is no far left, there are only those who fight against the system.’
The protest was largely peaceful, with no reported counter-demonstrations. A Kent Police spokesperson mentioned that law enforcement was monitoring the situation to ensure the event remained peaceful and lawful, with resources ready for a proportionate police response.
Dover has long been a focal point for irregular migration to the UK, with many crossing the English Channel in small, flimsy boats. According to the Migration Observatory, around 37,000 people were detected crossing the English Channel in small boats in 2024, 25% more than the year before, with the number of arrivals increasing further in the first half of 2025. Over the past six years, citizens of Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Albania, Syria, and Eritrea have made up 70% of people crossing in small boats to the UK.
Anti-migrant sentiments in the UK have been on the rise, with many linking migration with surging crime rates. According to government data, there were around 50,500 offences involving a sharp instrument in the year ending March 2024 across England and Wales, excluding Greater Manchester.