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Police probe threats after Portsmouth anti-migrant protest

9/10/2026

18 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

RNLI Faces Abuse

Anti-migrant protesters in Portsmouth blocked roads and doxxed RNLI volunteers after a Channel rescue.
Police are reviewing threatening social-media posts and investigating possible criminal offences linked to the protest.
RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes denied rumours that the charity houses or moves migrants and stressed its apolitical rescue mission.
Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin condemned the abuse and called for respect for RNLI crews.

Summary

Burnham Meets Macron

The Home Office reported 625 migrants arriving on eight boats at Dover and Portsmouth on Sunday.
Small-boat arrivals fell 43% year-on-year to 16,513 in the year to 1 September.
Net migration reached its lowest level since 2012, excluding the Covid pandemic period.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham and President Emmanuel Macron met to scale up anti-crossing measures.
Smugglers now use larger “mega dinghies” to transport more migrants per vessel.

History

Historical Context

Portsmouth’s RNLI lifeboat service started at Southsea in 1886, closed in 1918, and was re-opened at Eastney in 1965 after the 1964 rollout of fast in-shore boats. Repeated capsizes—1901’s Beauchamp and 1907’s Selina—spurred upgrades, illustrated by Brian’s Pride launching 341 times and saving 26 lives before its 2010 replacement. That legacy underpins today’s ability to respond to large migrant-boat incidents and fuels local controversy.

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RNLI Faces Abuse

Anti-migrant protesters in Portsmouth blocked roads and doxxed RNLI volunteers after a Channel rescue.
Police are reviewing threatening social-media posts and investigating possible criminal offences linked to the protest.
RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes denied rumours that the charity houses or moves migrants and stressed its apolitical rescue mission.
Portsmouth North MP Amanda Martin condemned the abuse and called for respect for RNLI crews.

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