Overview
- The blockade began Saturday morning when groups of black‑clad, balaclava‑wearing men blocked all main routes into the Port of Dover, causing up to four miles (6.4 km) of congestion and delays on approach roads.
- Kent Police attended the scene, engaged with protesters and said they had dispersed the crowd by midday with no immediate reports of violence or arrests.
- Ferry operators including P&O and DFDS kept sailings running where possible and said passengers who missed crossings would be put on the next available sailing.
- Far‑right activists and organisers posted on social media claiming a coordinated action, and local politicians and the government condemned the disruption while urging vigilance against further mobilisation.
- Dover is Britain’s busiest ferry port and the protest revives tensions over Channel small‑boat crossings even though official data shows crossings are down by about 40% this year compared with 2025, and residents and travellers suffered intimidation and travel disruption.