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Charity Commission chair condemns 'thuggery and intimidation' targeting RNLI volunteers over migrant rescues

An RNLI lifeboat whose crew's children have faced school bullying, with volunteers branded traitors, confronted in pubs and shops, and one Portsmouth station forced to close temporarily after receiving threats.
An RNLI lifeboat whose crew's children have faced school bullying, with volunteers branded traitors, confronted in pubs and shops, and one Portsmouth station forced to close temporarily after receiving threats.

Dame Julia Unwin, addressing the Charity Commission's annual public meeting, issued a sharp condemnation of threats made against RNLI lifeboat crews following weeks of intensifying harassment. Volunteers have been subjected to doxxing, social media abuse and radio threats after assisting migrants coming ashore at Portsmouth and Gosport. Hampshire police are investigating four suspicious messages transmitted on VHF radio in Portsmouth Harbour after a mid-Channel rescue on 4 October. The Portsmouth lifeboat station was temporarily shut down after crew members' personal details and photographs appeared online, accompanied by accusations of treason.

RNLI crews were targeted after approximately 120 migrants landed at Eastney, Portsmouth, on 6 September, with some volunteers branded 'traitors' on social media.

Dame Julia warned charities must 'have the courage to tolerate vigorous debate' but said society must 'never grow accustomed to criminal or para-criminal abuse'.

Reform UK's Hampshire leader George Madgwick said RNLI crews 'should never be personally attacked' but added he did not 'politically or morally agree' with the charity's role in the Channel.

MoreThe TimesAnti-migrant ‘thuggery’ threatens lifeboat crews, says charity watchdogBBC News - EnglandCharity Commission condemns ‘thuggery’ against RNLI crewsLBCCharity regulator to condemn ‘thuggery and intimidation’ towards RNLI volunteers
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