Update on protest policing and PACT meetings in Portswood from district commander Superintendent Alex Charge

As we move into the new year, I wanted to reaffirm our commitment to you all to continue facilitating protest and dispel some rumours and speculation which have been circulating of late.

Last week, we held our first Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting of 2026 in Portswood, where a larger than normal number attended, wishing to discuss the hotel and protests.

Firstly, these meetings have been a regular, quarterly part of our local neighbourhood engagements for some time - and to reassure local residents, we have no plans to cancel these.

These meetings are a place local residents can come and discuss any concerns they have - such as anti-social behaviour, speeding, or parking concerns - with the local neighbourhood policing team and community safety officers from the council.

Ahead of last week's meeting, we became aware that people had been informed this PACT meeting was to discuss protests and the hotel, however this was not the case and any flyers or information shared about this being so was not done by us.

During the course of the meeting, we wanted to ensure local residents who do attend these meetings more regularly were able to raise any issues or ask questions they would have wished, while also trying to allow for those who attended specifically to discuss the hotel and protests a chance to raise their questions as well.

As a Constabulary, we have been really clear from the outset, our role here is not to take sides in a debate, and decisions regarding the hotel's use are not for us to make. We will, though, continue to uphold people's right to express their views and gather to protest lawfully.

You may not agree with the views expressed by people attending protests, and could find their opinion upsetting or offensive, but this does not mean that those people will have committed an offence.

To be clear though, if people do participate in behaviour which is anti-social or could be viewed as a public order offence, then we have and will continue to investigate these.

I know these protests can disrupt local residents' lives, and they do come with a range of emotions, but we are committed to ensuring these can be facilitated safely - for those attending and the wider public - and that this disruption can be kept to the minimum possible for the community.

Superintendent Alex Charge, district commander for Southampton