At least 28 anti-migrant vigilante groups have formed in the UK in the last 18 months, ranging from unauthorised street patrols claiming to protect women and children to groups harassing migrants in France and blocking ports. From Belfast to the south coast of England, the number of active groups has surged since the summer of 2025, according to analysis by the Guardian, amid widespread concerns over fresh disorder after black-clad vigilantes, many of them wearing balaclavas, blocked roads in Portsmouth and Dover last weekend. Often arguing that they are filling gaps left by the police or taking action on migration that the government is unable to, the groups range from small-scale community patrols near asylum-seeker accommodation to those attempting to stop migrants crossing the Channel from France.
They include Scots Active, which conducts late-night patrols around Glasgow city centre claiming to protect the public from migrants, sometimes wearing balaclavas and stab-proof vests. It says its activities help ensure the safety of women and girls. It was one of two groups banned from TikTok earlier this year after reportedly sharing footage claiming to expose migrant hotels.
Another is the British Security Project, a self-styled civilian safety group that has described itself as the “tip of the spear in mass deportation under a Rupert Lowe government”. It recruits “visible deterrent patrol” volunteers via its website and social media platforms, and responds to reports from the public about incidents claiming to involve migrants. It aims to “provide 124,000 security personnel to public spaces by 2035”, according to its Facebook page.
When the Guardian contacted the group for comment, a spokesperson said it was neither vigilante nor anti-migrant. They filmed themselves claiming to have slashed dinghies on French beaches. France subsequently banned 10 members from the country.
Members of far-right Patriot Platform blocked roads near Dover for several hours last Saturday, disrupting traffic to and from the port. Kent police initially said they had received no warning, but later admitted officers had failed to act on calls made on Friday evening. On Sunday, about 200 black-clad men gathered in Portsmouth after 120 asylum seekers rescued from a dinghy were brought ashore there.
They blocked roads and allegedly assaulted several police officers. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, urged police on Thursday to curb the activities of such groups, telling senior officers to make full use of their powers. The rise in vigilante groups is a recent phenomenon, overwhelmingly happening in the last year.
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