RNLI volunteers face abuse and threats over migrant rescues

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 12:29 · Archive

Children of RNLI lifeboat volunteers have been bullied at school after their parents rescued migrants in the English Channel.

Children of RNLI lifeboat volunteers have been bullied at school following protests over migrant rescues in the English Channel. Volunteers at stations in Gosport and Portsmouth have faced sustained abuse and intimidation. In response to small boat arrivals, the RNLI brought around 120 migrants to shore in Portsmouth on 6 September. Volunteers' names and images were subsequently published online, with accusations they were complicit in an 'invasion' of Britain. Some were confronted in public and branded 'traitors'.

The abuse escalated to the point that Portsmouth RNLI stations were temporarily forced to close. Volunteers have been advised to stop wearing their badges in public to avoid confrontations. At least two crew members' children had been targeted at school because their fathers were involved with the charity, according to allegations raised at a Portsmouth City Council debate.

Dame Julia Unwin, head of the Charity Commission, condemned the treatment in the strongest terms at the commission's annual public meeting. She said: 'I want to condemn in the strongest terms the thuggery and intimidation that volunteers of the RNLI have faced over recent weeks – and indeed over months and even years.' She warned that Britain must resist the 'normalisation of violence' in public debate and described some incidents as 'para-criminal abuse'.

Unwin stressed that the RNLI's duty is to rescue people in peril at sea, regardless of their nationality. She acknowledged that charities must accept vigorous debate and that people might disapprove of their work for political reasons. However, she drew a distinction between legitimate criticism and the intimidation volunteers have experienced.

Reform UK Hampshire leader George Madgwick said he had received 'extreme abuse' and required personal security protection after stating that crews should never be personally attacked, though he disagreed with the RNLI's involvement in bringing migrants to Britain. Portsmouth City Council debated recognising the RNLI with the Freedom of the City honour in response to the abuse.

How it is being reported

• RNLI lifeboat crews threatened by ‘thuggery’ from anti-migrant protesters, charity watchdog says‘We must never grow accustomed to criminal or para-criminal abuse’, Charity Commission chair saysThe Independent · 16 Oct, 12:22
• Anti-migration protests threaten lifeboat crews, warns charity watchdogThe charity watchdog chief has warned that "thuggery" from anti-migration protests threatens lifeboat crews. Dame Julia Unwin, the head of the Charity Commission, said Royal National Lifeboat Institution crews have faced "intimidation" from anti-migration protesters. On September 6, the lifeboat charity helped bring around 120 migrants to shore in Portsmouth. Subsequently, RNLI stations in Portsmouth were temporarily forced to close after several volunteers had their images shared online alongside accusations they were complicit in the "invasion" of Britain. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say…GB News · 16 Oct, 02:55
• Children of RNLI lifeboat volunteers are bullied at school because their parents rescue migrants in the English ChannelVolunteers for a lifeboat station in Gosport have been subject to abuse following the arrivals of small boats, which led to lifeboats bringing illegal migrants ashore.Daily Mail · 14 Oct, 15:20

In this story: RNLI · Portsmouth · Gosport · Dame Julia Unwin · English Channel · Charity Commission · Reform UK Hampshire · George Madgwick

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem