The Newshound

Charity Commission condemns 'thuggery and intimidation' targeting RNLI volunteers over Channel 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, the Charity Commission's chair, has spoken out against the threats and abuse directed at RNLI volunteer crews following anti-migration protesters doxxing crew members and forcing the closure of Portsmouth's lifeboat station. VHF radio messages of a suspicious nature in Portsmouth Harbour are now the subject of a police investigation, prompted after 149 migrants came ashore at Gosport on 4 October. Unwin cautioned that Britain must not allow the "normalisation of violence" in public debate, and maintained that charities carry an "absolute duty" to rescue those in danger at sea.

Following the 6 September landing at Eastney, crew names and photographs were posted online alongside accusations of treason.

Reform UK's Hampshire leader George Madgwick was given personal security protection after stating that crews should not face personal attacks.

Police are investigating four suspicious radio messages that Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service described as "disgusting threats".

MoreThe TimesAnti-migrant ‘thuggery’ threatens lifeboat crews, says charity watchdogBBC News - EnglandCharity Commission condemns ‘thuggery’ against RNLI crewsGB NewsMigrant crisis: Anti-migration protests threaten RNLI lifeboat crews, warns charity watchdog
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