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RNLI Closes Portsmouth Lifeboat Station Over Safety Threats

By Drooid · Sep 20, 2026, 10:03 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

RNLI temporarily closed Portsmouth lifeboat station on 7 September because crew safety was threatened.
Protesters, including far-right activists, targeted the station after RNLI rescued about 120 asylum seekers on 6 September.
RNLI warned volunteers against wearing branded clothing and said stations could close if staff felt unsafe.
Contingency arrangements with nearby stations keep search-and-rescue coverage around Portsmouth.

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Story summary

RNLI temporarily closed Portsmouth lifeboat station on 7 September because crew safety was threatened.
Protesters, including far-right activists, targeted the station after RNLI rescued about 120 asylum seekers on 6 September.
RNLI warned volunteers against wearing branded clothing and said stations could close if staff felt unsafe.
Contingency arrangements with nearby stations keep search-and-rescue coverage around Portsmouth.