Territorial police force for Kent, UK
A fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel on Folkestone’s Marine Parade has led to the evacuation of about 280 people. Kent Fire & Rescue says the blaze started in the basement and is being treated as suspicious. A welfare centre has been set up, with residents relocated and supported by local authorities and the Britannia Hotels Group.
Protests by black-clad groups in Dover and Portsmouth have escalated, blocking roads and prompting police scrutiny. A new umbrella network, Patriot Platform, links local anti-migrant groups and signals a coordinated shift in far-right activism. Authorities warn of a more assertive tactic while advocating lawful measures.
Migrant crossings near the UK have led to renewed government action. Courts have handed down sentences for endangering lives at sea, while authorities pledge to intensify surveillance and enforcement under new border-security measures.
Posthumous conditional pardon is granted to Ruth Ellis, the last woman hanged in the UK, acknowledging a grave injustice linked to domestic abuse while noting flaws in responding to abuse within the justice system.
A lifer in Belmarsh has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation after an incident with a guard in February. Cases have moved to Inner London Crown Court for trial, with further developments expected.
A man has been charged after an aggravated burglary in Tollington Park, north London, left a woman dead and another man injured. Police say the investigation is ongoing and residents are asked to share any footage or details.
Masked demonstrators have blocked roads around Dover and later gathered in Portsmouth, halting access to the Port of Dover and delaying ferries before dispersing by midday. Protesters have chanted "stop the boats" and linked the actions to the Patriot Platform and far‑right figures; officials and ministers have condemned the disruption and police are reviewing how intelligence and resources were deployed.
Protests at Dover and surrounding towns were coordinated by far-right figures, with hundreds of masked demonstrators blocking a major port. Kent police say information was not fully assessed, prompting calls for independent reviews. Protests spread to Portsmouth; authorities are reviewing triage and response. No arrests were made on the day.