Full Breakdown
Abuse of RNLI Volunteers Over Migrant Rescues
By Drooid · · How we work
Abuse of RNLI Volunteers Over Migrant Rescues
RNLI lifeboat crews have been confronted by anti-migrant protesters while shopping, in pubs and on the streets, and their children have been bullied at school. Incidents reported include a two-hour lockdown of a boathouse during a protest at Eastney harbour and online campaigns urging the public to identify individual volunteers. The harassment has been described as both verbal intimidation and physical abuse.
Scale of Channel Rescue Operations
The RNLI’s involvement in migrant crossings represents a small fraction of its overall workload. A report referenced by the *Times* notes that migrant-related callouts account for 1.7 % of the charity’s total missions. In 2025, 41,472 people attempted to cross the English Channel, of whom 2,353 (5.7 %) were rescued by the RNRI. One documented rescue brought approximately 140 migrants into Portsmouth harbour.
Official Statements
Peter Sparkes, chief executive of the RNLI, said that “deliberate misinformation and misunderstanding” about the organisation’s tasking have led to online and physical abuse of volunteers and their families.
Effects on Volunteers and Their Children
Two crew members reported that their children were harassed by classmates because of their parents’ volunteer work. The bullying has been highlighted in an email read aloud during a council debate on granting the RNLI Freedom of the City, underscoring the personal toll on families of rescuers.
Council Debate and Public Support
During the council meeting, members discussed the abuse and called for a formal expression of support for the RNLI. The debate highlighted the tension between public criticism of migrant rescues and the long-standing community role of the RNLI, reinforcing calls for protection of volunteers and their families.