Man, 76, charged for wearing burka at Portsmouth anti-migrant demonstration

A 76-year-old man has been charged with concealing his identity by wearing a burka at an anti-immigration protest in Portsmouth.

Timothy Miller, of Sherwood Avenue in Hedge End, Southampton, is accused of wearing or using an item to conceal his identity at a protest.

He will appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The force also said David Kenny McNally of Winchester Road, Portsmouth, has been charged with wilful obstruction of a highway and attempted criminal damage.

Mr McNally, 33, will appear at the same court on Thursday, October 29.

A 16-year-old boy from Waterlooville who was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder over a protest at Eastney Marina on September 6 has been bailed until December 12.

Anti-migrant and anti-racism protesters faced off in the city centre on Saturday.

Police used powers under the Crime and Policing Act to restrict face coverings following anti-immigration protests featuring masked men in Portsmouth and Dover last weekend.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said the hundreds of people who took part in Saturday’s protests were largely peaceful and complied with the restrictions on face coverings.

She said: “Thankfully we didn’t see repeated scenes of [last] Sunday night with assaults on police officers and criminal damage to police vehicles and people’s property.

"Hundreds of people took part in today’s protest and, with the exception of a few people, it was peaceful and conducted in accordance with the new law calling for their faces to be uncovered.

"The people of Portsmouth deserve to go about their business without fear and disruption. While some may think it was arbitrary to use the new power directing people to remove face coverings, the police ensured it was implemented equally and impartially for everyone involved."

RNLI volunteers and staff have faced abuse from anti-migrant protesters over their rescue work bringing some small boat migrants ashore.

Overnight last Sunday, crowds gathered at Eastney Marina after a dinghy’s arrival across the English Channel.

Official vehicles were damaged and a small number of police officers were injured, Hampshire Police said. About 200 people were dispersed early on Monday.

In Dover, crowds of masked men blocked road access to the port last Saturday, in scenes which were condemned by politicians of all parties.