Danny Tommo, the name used by activist Daniel Thomas, has been charged with criminal damage after an incident involving a boat in the English Channel. Police said the 37-year-old was also charged with an offence relating to an alleged failure to disclose his mobile phone PIN.
Thomas was arrested on Wednesday, September 23, after police investigated reports that a boat was damaged while an emergency responder was on board. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear before Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court by videolink on Friday, September 25.
The case follows footage shared online that appeared to show Thomas approaching and cutting an inflatable boat during a Channel operation. The allegation has not been tested in court, and being charged does not mean that he has been convicted.
Why was Danny Tommo arrested?
Police began investigating the incident after receiving a report on Tuesday evening, September 22. The force said a boat had been damaged in the English Channel while an emergency responder was aboard.
Thomas was arrested the following evening. At the time, police said he was being held on suspicion of several offences, including:
- Criminal damage
- Criminal damage with intent to endanger life
- Conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals
- Destroying ships or fixed platforms, or endangering their safety
Footage of the arrest was published online. It showed officers stopping a vehicle at a petrol station and telling Thomas that he was under arrest in connection with suspected criminal damage and conduct that had allegedly placed someone’s life at risk.
The arrest followed videos linked to an anti-migration activist operation in the Channel. In earlier footage, Thomas appeared to use a knife on the side of an inflatable vessel while a rescue worker was present. The precise sequence of events, including the extent of any damage and the circumstances surrounding the emergency responder, will be matters for the investigation and court proceedings.
What has Danny Tommo been charged with?
On Thursday, September 24, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that Daniel Thomas had been charged with one count of criminal damage.
Police also said he had been charged under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. That allegation concerns failing to comply with a notice requiring him to disclose the PIN for a mobile phone.
The final charges publicly confirmed by police are therefore narrower than the list of offences initially mentioned when Thomas was arrested. Police had originally referred to possible offences under maritime security and merchant shipping legislation, as well as criminal damage with intent to endanger life. The charging decision currently confirmed by police includes criminal damage and the separate phone-PIN offence.
Further changes to the case could occur as the investigation develops, but no additional charge should be treated as confirmed unless announced by police or the court.
What happened in the English Channel?
The incident took place against the backdrop of a small-boat crossing involving people who had travelled from Normandy. Reports said the inflatable vessel was later involved in an encounter with activists and emergency responders.
Online footage appeared to show Thomas travelling out to sea and confronting a boat. He was seen using a blade against the inflatable vessel after a responder had boarded it. The footage was circulated by Thomas and people associated with him, meaning that viewers should distinguish between what is visible in the video and claims about the wider circumstances that have not yet been established in court.
Police have described the case in careful terms, saying that damage was allegedly caused to a boat while an emergency responder was on board. That wording does not establish who owned the boat, the full extent of the damage, or whether anyone was injured.
The legal significance of the case is likely to centre on the alleged damage, the condition of the vessel at the time, and the potential risk created by damaging it at sea. Prosecutors will also need to present evidence supporting the phone-PIN allegation.
Where is Danny Tommo now?
Thomas was remanded in custody after being charged. He is scheduled to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Friday, September 25, by videolink.
A remand in custody means that he remains detained while the court considers the next stage of the case. It does not amount to a finding of guilt. The magistrates may deal with bail, timetable the proceedings, and determine whether the case should progress to a higher court.
There has been public interest in the arrest, with supporters gathering outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening. The gathering dispersed peacefully after news of the charge emerged.
Around 250 followers of Danny Tommo gathered outside the Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening
At the time of writing, there has been no reported conviction or trial outcome in the criminal damage case.
Who is Danny Tommo?
Danny Tommo is the public name used by Daniel Thomas, a 37-year-old activist associated with anti-migration campaigning and the Patriot Platform group.
He has built an online following through livestreams, political commentary and confrontational activity connected to protests around the south coast. His videos and public appearances have focused heavily on opposition to small-boat crossings and criticism of the government’s migration policies.
That background explains why the Channel incident attracted significant attention online. However, Thomas’s political views and public profile are separate from the legal question now before the courts: whether the prosecution can prove the criminal damage and phone-PIN allegations beyond the required legal standard.
What happens next in the Danny Tommo case?
The immediate next step is Thomas’s appearance at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on September 25. The hearing is expected to address his custody status and the procedural timetable.
Possible next stages include:
- A decision on whether Thomas is granted bail or remains in custody
- Further police inquiries into the boat incident and online footage
- Disclosure of evidence to the defence
- A decision on whether the case remains in the magistrates’ court or is sent to the Crown Court
- A future plea hearing and, if necessary, a trial
The prosecution must prove the allegations against Thomas. The arrest footage, livestreams and other digital material may form part of the evidence, but the existence of video footage alone does not determine the outcome of a criminal case.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Has Danny Tommo been charged?
Yes. Police confirmed on September 24, 2026, that Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, had been charged with criminal damage and an offence concerning an alleged failure to disclose a mobile phone PIN.
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Why was Danny Tommo arrested?
He was arrested after police investigated an allegation that a boat in the English Channel was damaged while an emergency responder was on board.
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Was Danny Tommo charged with criminal damage with intent to endanger life?
Police initially listed criminal damage with intent to endanger life among the offences being investigated. The charges publicly confirmed on September 24 were one count of criminal damage and a separate phone-PIN offence.
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Is Danny Tommo still in custody?
Yes. He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court by videolink on Friday, September 25.
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Was anyone injured in the boat incident?
Police confirmed that an emergency responder was on board the boat when it was damaged. They have not publicly confirmed that anyone was injured.
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What is Danny Tommo’s real name?
His real name is Daniel Thomas. He is known publicly as Danny Tommo.
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Has Danny Tommo been found guilty?
No. He has been charged, but there has been no conviction. The allegations must be determined through the court process.
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When will Danny Tommo appear in court?
He is due to appear before Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on September 25, 2026, by videolink.
Danny Tommo’s arrest has now progressed to a formal criminal case, with police confirming charges over alleged damage to a boat and the separate phone-PIN allegation. The next significant development is his magistrates’ court appearance on September 25. Until evidence is tested in court, the allegations remain unproven.