'Traitors and cowards': RNLI children are bullied at school as volunteers face abuse over migrant rescues

Children of RNLI crew members in Gosport and Portsmouth have faced bullying at school because of their fathers' service with the charity — a fact raised before councillors as they debated whether to award the RNLI the Freedom of the City. Volunteers have been confronted in pubs, shops and yacht clubs, branded traitors, and had their names published online. One Portsmouth station had to close temporarily after receiving threats, and crews have been told to take off their badges when out in public so as not to invite confrontation.

A letter from a local station read at the council meeting stated: 'The children of two of my crew have been bullied in school because their dad is in the RNLI.'

Reform UK councillors opposed granting the Freedom of the City honour and sought to remove what they called 'political commentary' from the motion, though the council backed it anyway.

Suspicious vehicles were spotted near the Gosport station and 'spotters' reported watching the site as anti-migrant anger followed small boat landings at Eastney and Gosport.