RNLI volunteers’ children face school bullying after parents rescued Channel migrants

RNLI lifeboat crews operating from Gosport and Portsmouth have come under fire after rescuing migrants crossing the English Channel, prompting anti-migrant protests in the area. Parents of two crew members reported that their children were bullied at school, with the volunteers’ names published online and suspicious vehicles seen near the station. A Portsmouth City Council motion to award the RNLI Freedom of the City drew attention to the intimidation, and a separate lifeboat station was forced to close temporarily due to threats.

Councilors Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Billy Ansell condemned the attacks, while Reform UK councillors unsuccessfully sought to remove criticism of the RNLI as a “taxi service” for migrants. The RNLI has told volunteers to stop wearing their badges in public, and its chief executive Peter Sparkes denounced the online and physical abuse. The charity rescued over 36,000 people last year, emphasizing its duty to save lives regardless of nationality.