Police officers were injured and emergency-service vehicles damaged during the anti-migration protest in Portsmouth that followed the arrival of a small boat carrying around 140 migrants.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has now confirmed that a number of police, Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged during Sunday night's disorder.
A small number of police officers were treated at the scene for injuries, although the force said nobody from the emergency services or the public was seriously injured.
Police have launched an investigation to identify those suspected of assaults on officers, criminal damage to vehicles and other offences.
Police confirm injuries and damage
The latest police update provides the clearest official account yet of the disorder that followed the arrival of the migrant boat in Portsmouth.
According to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, around 200 demonstrators remained in the area before officers dispersed the gathering at approximately 4am on Monday.
The force said: “A number of police, Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged during the evening.”
It added that a small number of officers were treated at the scene for injuries, but that nobody attending from any agency or the public suffered serious injuries.
Police said violence and criminal damage had no place in peaceful protest.
Investigation launched but no arrests at time of update
No arrests had been made when the force issued its latest update.
However, officers have launched an investigation aimed at identifying people believed to be responsible for assaults on police officers, criminal damage to vehicles or other criminal offences.
The confirmation marks a significant development from the initial reports on Sunday night, when authorities were still dealing with the protest and the full extent of any injuries or damage had not yet been officially established.
Protest followed arrival of around 140 migrants
The disorder began after a small boat reported to be carrying around 140 migrants was intercepted in the English Channel and those aboard were brought ashore in Portsmouth.
The vessel had travelled from the Jobourg area of Normandy, an unusually western departure point for a Channel migrant crossing.
RNLI lifeboats brought those aboard into Portsmouth, after which coaches were prepared to transport them away for immigration processing.
Hundreds of anti-migration protesters subsequently gathered near Eastney Marina and blocked roads leading away from the area.
Portsmouth council leader criticises Home Office
Portsmouth City Council leader Steve Pitt has now sharply criticised the decision to use Portsmouth as the disembarkation point.
Pitt said the Home Office had “serious questions to answer” and argued that the location selected to bring the migrants ashore was unsuitable.
He said the decision had put people at risk and caused unnecessary disruption.
The comments represent criticism from the council leader rather than a finding by police or another investigating authority.
Government had already condemned disorder
The Government condemned the scenes in Portsmouth while the protest was taking place.
A Government spokesperson said the right to peaceful protest was fundamental to democracy but that it must not cross the line into disorder.
Ministers described some of the behaviour seen in Portsmouth as “intimidating and thuggish”.
The Government has continued to defend its approach to Channel migration while acknowledging that organised smuggling networks are adapting their methods.
Latest development adds pressure over Portsmouth landing
The confirmation that officers were injured and official vehicles damaged is likely to intensify scrutiny of both the policing operation and the decision to use Portsmouth for the landing.
The city does not routinely handle Channel migrant arrivals on the same scale as locations in Kent, and local figures have questioned whether appropriate infrastructure was available.
The Home Office has not accepted responsibility for the disorder, and the police investigation is focused on identifying those suspected of committing criminal offences during the protest.
The wider crossing remains notable because it originated from western Normandy rather than the more commonly used departure areas further east along the French coast.