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Dover ferry services return to normal after anti-migration protest
Masked demonstrators blocked access roads and briefly delayed sailings
Ferry traffic between the UK and France has returned to normal after a protest disrupted access to the Port of Dover on Saturday (September 5).
Some 300 masked demonstrators blocked roads leading to the port from around 07:00, according to eyewitness reports, bringing traffic in and out of the ferry terminal to a halt for several hours.
The protesters, who were heard chanting “Stop the boats” in opposition to migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, were described by Kent Police as taking part in a spontaneous demonstration.
The demonstrators later moved towards Dover Priory railway station and had dispersed by midday. No arrests were made.
The Port of Dover said all routes into and out of the port had reopened.
“We thank our customers and local community for their patience whilst the police managed the public order incident,” a spokesman said.
The disruption briefly affected ferry services to and from France, with P&O Ferries reporting delays of up to 60 minutes.
Both P&O Ferries and DFDS said passengers who missed their scheduled crossings would be accommodated on the next available sailing.
On the French side, the port of Calais said it was operating normally, although there were some delays to departures.
The UK Government condemned the disruption. A Home Office spokesperson said the right to peaceful protest was fundamental to democracy, but added that the authorities were concerned about the impact on travellers and the local community.
The Port of Dover is the UK’s busiest international ferry and passenger port, handling more than nine million road passengers and two million freight vehicles in 2025.
