A Gosport council meeting about migrant arrivals has been postponed after the Home Office warned a small boat may need to be brought ashore in the area.
The extraordinary meeting was due to take place this evening, September 22, but the council said police resources may be needed to support bringing migrants ashore “somewhere on the south coast”.
The council said it was also aware of a planned protest linked to the meeting and did not want this to take police officers away from where they may be needed.
A spokesperson said: “The events in the Channel today make it apparent police resources may be needed to support bringing migrants ashore somewhere on the south coast.
“We’re aware of a protest planned to coincide with the extraordinary council meeting this evening and do not want that to divert police from where they are needed most.”
The council added that the Mayor and all group leaders had agreed to postpone the meeting, with a new date to be arranged “as soon as possible”.
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In an update to Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage, the Home Office said it was now “increasingly likely” that a small boat would need to be brought ashore in the local area in the coming hours.
The Home Office said a vessel had left from small boat routes along the French coast and was heading towards the Portsmouth area.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is “fully sighted” on the situation and was putting plans in place to protect public safety.
It added that any decision to bring a boat ashore in the Portsmouth area would only be taken where “operationally necessary” and after looking at all available options.
Those arriving would be transferred “as quickly as possible” to reception and processing facilities in Kent, with no plans for them to remain in Portsmouth or wider Hampshire beyond the immediate operational requirements, the department said.
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