Around 60 people gathered outside the RNLI headquarters in Poole, Dorset, this evening in a demonstration against the charity's alleged role in the small boat crisis. The protest was staged by the Poole Patriots group, and one protester accused the RNLI of 'facilitating the bringing in of unvetted illegal men'.
Protesters' accusations against the RNLI
AC Chamberlin, of the Poole Patriots group which staged the protest, accused the RNLI of 'doing their bit' in migrants crossing the English Channel. The campaigner told the Express: "I appreciate what they do to save lives, but at the same time it's a volunteer job. If it's voluntary, to me they should be refusing to go out and do that job [rescue migrants], just because it's voluntary alone."
He added: "I'm not saying it's for all illegal migrants. Legal migrants that flee their country because they're in the middle of war, I totally agree, come over because no one wants to be bombed. So by all means come over and immigrate. But when it comes to undocumented men coming from other backgrounds, of military [backgrounds], coming over to commit harm, somewhere along the line it has to stop and the RNLI are doing their bit by making that happen."
Context of recent protests
The protest comes as the RNLI warns its staff have faced 'unacceptable' online and physical abuse following major anti-migrant protests along England's south coast over the weekend. Around 150 masked demonstrators blocked road access to the Port of Dover in a 'stop the boats' protest on Saturday. The following day, hundreds of protesters blocked roads in Portsmouth after 140 migrants were rescued by the RNLI and brought ashore to the Hampshire city. Footage shared on social media showed RNLI volunteers labelled as 'traitors' after the rescue mission.
There is nothing to suggest those in attendance at Wednesday's protest have been involved in the reported abuse. The demonstration was peaceful and proceeded without any hostilities.
Voices at the protest
One protester, who was handing out rape alarms to women over safety concerns, said the RNLI are 'facilitating the bringing in of unvetted illegal men'. The woman, who did not want to be named, said she has 'nothing against the volunteers' but blamed their bosses. Steve, a 66-year-old military veteran who founded the Hampshire Resistance group, said: "The RNLI are helping, they're the only ones that are bringing them in." He added: "They're not saving lives, the boats aren't in peril."
The RNLI states all small boat crossings in the Channel are classed as being in distress and under international maritime law, any vessel that becomes aware of people in distress at sea must take all reasonable measures to assist. Of the charity's 9,058 lifeboat launches across the UK and Ireland last year, just 109 (1.2%) were to small boats in the Channel.
Local reaction and RNLI response
Several police officers were present for the duration of the protest which lasted less than three hours. RNLI also brought in their own security staff. A memorial sculpture outside the headquarters was cordoned off ahead of the demonstration. But not everyone in town agreed with the protest. One former RNLI lifeguard, who did not want to be named, said: "Staff members who work for the RNLI shouldn't be subject to anything because they're just employees. Ultimately, the RNLI have a duty to preserve life. That's their mission statement." Glynn, 60, who was visiting Poole with his wife Suzanne, 56, said abuse of RNLI staff is 'just wrong'.
On Tuesday, RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes said in a statement: "Recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel. Sadly, as a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in the worst cases, physical abuse. The RNLI's people represent the very best in our society, they selflessly give up their time to keep others safe. We will take whatever steps we can, to care for and protect our people and their families."
