RNLI closes Portsmouth station following anti-migrant protests

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has temporarily closed its Portsmouth lifeboat station following intense anti-migrant protests and harassment of its personnel. The closure, which began on 10 September, follows incidents where volunteers were branded ‘traitors’ after rescuing approximately 120 migrants from a single dinghy near the station.

Protesters have targeted RNLI staff and volunteers with verbal abuse, online threats, and the leaking of personal information, including home addresses. In response to safety concerns, some volunteers have been advised not to wear uniforms in public. RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes condemned the behavior, stating that the actions of those ‘hiding behind a balaclava or a keyboard’ are ‘wholly unacceptable’ and driven by deliberate misinformation regarding the charity’s lifesaving mission.

In a related development, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has had to clarify its identity after being mistaken for the RNLI by anti-migrant demonstrators. The charity noted that confusion between the two organizations often occurs online, leading to abuse directed at the RNIB regarding migrant arrivals. The RNLI has implemented contingency arrangements through other stations to ensure search and rescue coverage remains available during the Portsmouth station's temporary closure.