Ahead of an anticipated further anti-asylum seeker protest and community unity demonstration tomorrow (3/4/26), Superintendent Alex Charge, District Commander for Southampton police, has made a statement on the ongoing demonstrations, which have been taking place since early summer last year.
In a statement posted today (2/4/26) on social media, he said: As the evenings become lighter once again and with protests continuing outside Highfield House Hotel, I wanted to take some time (to) 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.”
Southampton Stand Up To Racism are calling for a strong showing at their counter demonstration, which will leave Waitrose in Portswood at around 6pm on Friday evening, following the huge Together Against the Far Right demonstration, which saw some 500,000 people gather in London at the weekend.
They said: Last Saturday, over 100 of us travelled from Southampton to London, joining half a million people at the Together Against The Far Right rally — a fantastic celebration of unity, hope and solidarity.
It was powerful. It was joyful. And the far right will have seen that coverage — to their dismay.
And now, on Good Friday, a day that is meant to symbolise compassion, reflection and humanity, the Southampton “Patriots” are once again turning up for their weekly hate protest outside the Highfield House Hotel.
They talk endlessly about this being a “Christian country”, yet on a day centred on love, sacrifice and care for others, they choose to spread division and hostility. There is nothing Christian about hate.
So this Friday, we bring the spirit of last weekend home. Let’s turn up in numbers. Let’s stand with refugees. Let’s show what Southampton truly is.
A city of welcome. A city of unity.
‘Southampton Patriots’ who organise the protests outside the hotel housing asylum seekers, placed their by the government whilst they await the results of their asylum applications, had not made a post about any planned demonstration tomorrow evening at the time of publication.
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