Portsmouth council backs RNLI honour amid bullying claims

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 11:03 · Archive

Portsmouth councillors voted to award the RNLI freedom of the city after hearing that crew members' children have faced bullying at school.

Portsmouth councillors voted to award the RNLI freedom of the city during a debate on the motion. The decision came after the council heard complaints of abuse directed at the charity's volunteers and their families.

A letter from the lifeboat station, read aloud during the debate, detailed the harassment crew members had experienced. It reported that children of two crew members had been bullied at school because their fathers work for the RNLI. The email also described crew members being confronted in pubs, yacht clubs and shops, having their names published online, and reports of suspicious vehicles parking near the station.

Former council leader Gerald Vernon-Jackson told councillors he was 'deeply concerned about the abuse, intimidation and threats' and called for the council to 'express its unequivocal support' for the charity. The RNLI has faced anti-migrant protests over its role in rescuing small boat migrants from the English Channel. The letter noted that despite the abuse, the station had received many supportive messages. Councillors voted in favour of the motion, though Reform UK opposed it.

How it is being reported

• RNLI volunteers' children being bullied after migrant landing in GosportChildren of RNLI lifeboat volunteers have been bullied at school because of their parents’ involvement recuing migrants in the English Channel.Southern Daily Echo · 14 Oct, 10:40
• RNLI crew's children face bullying, council toldCouncillors hear crew members' children were bullied at school because their dads are in the RNLI.BBC Hampshire · 14 Oct, 10:25
• Portsmouth councillors back freedom of the city honour for RNLICouncillors heard that RNLI crews’ children have been bullied at school over parents’ lifesaving workThe News, Portsmouth · 13 Oct, 18:43

In this story: RNLI · Portsmouth · English Channel · Reform UK

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