At least 28 anti-migrant vigilante groups have formed across the UK in the last 18 months, according to analysis by the Guardian. These groups range from unauthorised street patrols to those harassing migrants in France and blocking ports.
The number of active groups has surged since summer 2025, with incidents including black-clad vigilantes blocking roads in Portsmouth and Dover last weekend. The Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has urged police to use their full powers to curb the activities of these groups.
Examples of groups include Scots Active, which conducts late-night patrols in Glasgow, and the British Security Project, which recruits "visible deterrent patrol" volunteers. Another group, Raise the Colours, made trips to France in 2025, claiming to have slashed dinghies on French beaches, leading to 10 members being banned from France.
Last Saturday, members of Patriot Platform blocked roads near Dover for several hours. On Sunday, approximately 200 black-clad men gathered in Portsmouth, blocking roads and allegedly assaulting police officers after asylum seekers were brought ashore.
Dr Julia Ebner, an extremism expert at the University of Oxford, noted a rapid shift in how anti-migrant activists are mobilising, often claiming authorities are unwilling or incapable of protecting citizens. Alex MacKinnon, a researcher at Hope Not Hate, stated that while vigilante groups claim to protect communities, they often promote aggressive anti-migrant agendas.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council has advised the public to report concerns about crime and safety, stating that taking enforcement into one's own hands can be dangerous and compromise police investigations.