Children of RNLI lifeboat volunteers have experienced bullying at school linked to their parents' roles in rescuing migrants in the English Channel. Volunteers from a lifeboat station in Gosport reported facing abuse following the arrival of small boats, which resulted in lifeboats bringing migrants ashore. This situation has led to protests in Gosport and Portsmouth.
During a Portsmouth City Council debate regarding the RNLI's recognition with the Freedom of the City honour, allegations of bullying were raised. A letter to the council indicated that children of two crew members had been targeted at school due to their fathers' involvement with the charity. Volunteers reported being confronted in public, having their names published online, and noticing suspicious vehicles near the station. Some volunteers were labeled as 'traitors,' and their personal information was shared online.
Another lifeboat station in Portsmouth temporarily closed due to threats. RNLI volunteers have been advised to refrain from wearing their badges in public to avoid confrontations with anti-migrant protesters. Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson expressed deep concern about the abuse and intimidation directed at RNLI volunteers, stating that the council should show unequivocal support for the charity, which has been saving lives at sea for 200 years. Councillor Billy Ansell noted that volunteers respond to emergencies without regard for nationality, religion, or politics, and that disagreements over immigration should not justify hostility towards lifeboat crews.
An amendment proposed by Reform UK councillors to remove criticism of the RNLI being described as a 'taxi service' for migrants was defeated. The motion to grant the RNLI the Freedom of the City honour passed with 25 votes in favor, 11 against, and one abstention. The station's letter indicated that this recognition would provide a significant moral boost to volunteers and expressed gratitude for the support received.
On September 6, two RNLI all-weather lifeboats from the Isle of Wight landed at Eastney Point after rescuing 120 migrants attempting to cross the Channel from France. Following reports of these landings, demonstrators gathered to protest against the arrival of migrants. Several protesters have been charged with violent disorder, and multiple police officers were treated for injuries during the protests.
The Poole Old Lifeboat Museum also closed temporarily after incidents involving anti-migrant protesters verbally assaulting their volunteers. The Royal National Institute of Blind People issued a statement clarifying that they are not associated with the RNLI, following threats. Chief executive Peter Sparkes condemned the abusive actions of individuals who 'hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard,' stating that such behavior is wholly unacceptable. He emphasized that recent events have led to misinformation about the RNLI's purpose and lifesaving work in the Channel, resulting in abuse directed at some volunteers and staff.
The RNLI reported that it assisted over 36,000 individuals through its lifeboat and lifeguard services last year, with crews launching more than 9,000 times to help those in distress at sea. RNLI lifeboat crews maintain that they have a duty to rescue anyone at sea, regardless of their identity.