The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has suspended its services in Portsmouth after its volunteers experienced physical and online abuse linked to anti-migrant protests in the city. Demonstrators have targeted the charity following its rescue operations involving migrants. Volunteers reported being labeled as 'traitors,' with some having their personal information shared online. Consequently, the Portsmouth Lifeboat Station has removed its Facebook page, and RNLI volunteers have been advised to refrain from wearing their uniforms in public to avoid confrontations with protesters.
The station, situated in the Eastney area, has not been operational since September 10. The RNLI stated that it has implemented measures to ensure safety in the waters while the station is out of service. Earlier this month, two RNLI all-weather lifeboats from the Isle of Wight brought 120 migrants to Eastney Point after they attempted to cross the Channel from France. Following the arrival of the boats, protests erupted in the area.
Several protesters have been charged with violent disorder, and multiple police officers sustained injuries during the demonstrations. The RNLI has faced significant abuse after assisting migrants, leading to recommendations for volunteers to avoid wearing branded clothing in public. Video footage has surfaced showing volunteers being called 'traitors,' and threatening messages have been posted online.
Peter Sparkes, the RNLI's chief executive, condemned the abusive behavior of individuals who 'hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard,' stating that such actions are 'wholly unacceptable.' He noted that misinformation about the RNLI's mission has contributed to the abuse directed at volunteers. A spokesperson for the RNLI confirmed that the Portsmouth Lifeboat Station has been temporarily out of service since September 10, with contingency arrangements in place to maintain search and rescue operations.
In a related incident, anti-immigration protesters mistakenly directed abuse at the Royal National Institute of Blind People, prompting the charity to clarify that they are not affiliated with the RNLI. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has pledged to strengthen laws against 'doxxing,' the practice of leaking personal information, after RNLI volunteers had their details published online. Nandy criticized Elon Musk's platform X for not attending a meeting regarding the online abuse faced by lifeboat volunteers.