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Three people charged with assaulting emergency workers during anti-migrant protest in Gosport
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Three people charged with assaulting emergency workers during anti-migrant protest in Gosport Shannon Dodds, 32, Sally Pearson, 31, Toby Matthews, 33, were charged after the incident on Tuesday night - Bookmark Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Three people have been charged with assaulting an emergency worker following anti-migrant protests in Gosport, police said. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said they had sent officers to the town...
Three people charged with assaulting emergency workers during anti-migrant protest in Gosport
Shannon Dodds, 32, Sally Pearson, 31, Toby Matthews, 33, were charged after the incident on Tuesday night
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Three people have been charged with assaulting an emergency worker following anti-migrant protests in Gosport, police said.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said they had sent officers to the town on Tuesday to police a peaceful protest after hundreds had gathered following initial reports that a small boat was due to disembark there.
A total of six people were arrested, the force said.
On Wednesday, the force said two women and a man had been charged.
Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
Sally Pearson, 31, also from Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.
Both have been remanded into custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Toby Matthews, 33, of Forton Road, Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He has been bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on November 9.
Meanwhile, a 19-year-old man and a 36-year-old man from Salisbury, Wiltshire, who were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, have been bailed until December 22.
A 67-year-old man from Gosport was handed a fixed penalty notice for driving without due care and attention. Police said he was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. He has also been bailed until December 22.
It comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered an urgent review after a second migrant boat evaded Border Force and reached the Kent coast in as many days.
The incidents have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Border Security Command's surveillance and interception methods.
On Tuesday afternoon, 21 people were detained after a boat arrived on the beach at Samphire Hoe, Dover.
The Home Office did not confirm if more people from the boat were being sought.
The review will also examine a similar incident on Monday, when a dinghy made it to shore at Folkestone undetected – the first such incident in a year.
The incidents are a blow to Border Security Command, which had suggested that new surveillance technology and improved resources had made such events a thing of the past.
The government has faced criticism for its handling of migrant crossings, with some calling for the Royal Navy to be deployed to help intercept migrants.
The failure to intercept two migrant boats in two days before they reached the Kent coast was “not acceptable”, Ms Mahmood said.
Gosport (LOCATION)
Shannon Dodds (PERSON)
Sally Pearson (PERSON)
Toby Matthews (PERSON)
Independent (ORG)
Hampshire (LOCATION)
Isle of Wight Constabulary (ORG)
Portsmouth (LOCATION)
Forton Road (LOCATION)
Salisbury (LOCATION)
Wiltshire (LOCATION)
Home (ORG)
Shabana Mahmood (PERSON)
Border Force (ORG)
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