Around 60 anti-migrant activists gathered outside the Royal National Lifeboat Institution College in Poole on Wednesday evening, where they were met by a heavy police presence and private security guards. The protest, which began at around 5pm, was organised on Facebook by two groups calling themselves "Poole Patriots" and "Bournemouth Patriots".
The demonstration came just three days after masked protesters abused RNLI volunteers in Portsmouth, calling them "collaborators" and "traitors", and just hours after the Prime Minister warned that abuse against the charity's workers would not be tolerated.
Protesters' Claims and Security Measures
Some protesters accused the RNLI of perpetrating criminal activity by helping to bring unvetted young men to the UK. Others handed out rape alarms to women and girls present, telling them "we need to protect ourselves".
One protester said: "We are here as a peaceful vigil because of the rape victims, the sexual assault and stab victims, because the RNLI are facilitating bringing these undocumented, unvetted men of fighting age onto our shores. They are coming in boatloads at a time and now further along our coast, which is obviously a problem."
They claimed: "We already have 615 immigrants in our hotels in the Bournemouth area. The RNLI have perpetrated bringing them in as a taxi service, they are perpetrating rapes and criminal activity. Would you leave the front door open to any Tom, Dick and Harry? The answer should be no."
Voices from the Demonstration
An army veteran, who gave his name as Steve and said he is from the group Hampshire Resistance in Gosport, said: "I'm here because I'm a patriot and I want to help and support other patriots. We are all in this together. We love our country, I served my country. It isn't the RNLI's fault, they're just going by orders. It's a shame because we do need lifeboats, but this is more important to stop this invasion."
"I know sometimes what we do isn't going to make an impact, but if we don't protest nobody is going to know there's a problem. The only way to win this is to take back the power and the only way to do that is vote them out. The government is panicking and turning the country into chaos."
Other campaigners spoke through a microphone connected to a speaker calling on the RNLI to stop facilitating the migrants, prompting clapping and cheers from other protesters. One woman said: "It's about what happens afterwards. These men are coming into our communities and the government are handing them pamphlets on how not to rape. They don't live by our rules."
"The left are so righteous. They say we stand for women's rights - no you don't because if you did you would be demanding answers. Every single day there's a rape or a murder. You're forgetting the victims. You think these men on dinghies are the victims - they are not persecuted, they are cowards. If your country is at war you stay and fight for your country, you don't go through 11 countries to get here and leave your women and children behind. They are coming here to fleece us for everything."
Official Response and Previous Incidents
Speaking shortly before the latest protest began on Wednesday afternoon, Andy Burnham's official spokesman said: "Directing abuse at people who dedicate themselves to helping others is appalling. We won't tolerate social media being a haven for this kind of behaviour. We support the police in investigating any threatening or unlawful behaviour and taking action where appropriate."
On Sunday, RNLI heroes in Portsmouth were targeted by far-right thugs for helping to rescue asylum seekers in the English Channel. After helping a dinghy with 120 people on board to safety, they were met by men in a boat shouting: "How do you feel bringing illegal migrants into this country?"
A volunteer in a yellow life jacket told them: "I don't know, I haven't brought any in." The protesters replied: "Look at these guys, absolute traitors to this country. Look at the state of you." Other footage posted also showed people barracking an RNLI crew with calls of "traitors" and "yellowbellies". Another protester described the lifesavers as "scum", while some were seen entering the water.
Police are now investigating reports that two RNLI men were later named and pictured online in a social media post by someone calling themselves a "nationalist". Sussex Police said on Wednesday that "investigations are ongoing" into "offensive and threatening commentary" towards RNLI volunteers circulating on social media.
Chief Insp Adam McCaig said: "We would advise anyone considering carrying out any action that could hinder the RNLI's vital lifesaving work to carefully consider the implications. The RNLI exists to save lives at sea, and any disruption to that mission could have serious consequences for those in need of urgent assistance."
The online poster had written: "We now have names for these two traitors helping 140 asylum seekers into our country last night. We also now have one address that I believe is circulating in Telegram groups." They later added: "Let's make it clear. I don't wish any harm on these two individuals. Their names were posted on X before my post, and I am only reporting what I have seen."
The posts received widespread criticism, including from Hope Not Hate chief executive Nick Lowles, who accused the poster of putting "a target on their backs". RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparkes also issued a heartfelt statement on Tuesday night pleading for activists not to target the charity. He said: "The RNLI is an apolitical organisation; we are completely independent of government, powered by remarkable, kind people and fuelled by the incredible generosity of the public."
"For over two hundred years, in all weathers, in peace and war, the RNLI and our amazing volunteers and staff have selflessly dedicated themselves to rescuing people they have never met before, without judgment, fear or favour. When His Majesty’s Coastguard tasks a RNLI lifeboat crew to launch to a vessel or people in distress, whenever and wherever they need us, we will. We will always answer the call, whoever needs our help. It is a legal and moral obligation that our country has, under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea and SOLAS, Safety of Life at Sea. Courage is the RNLI’s currency; dependable, loyal, service to others and our nations is our hallmark."
Mr Sparkes also dismissed false online claims that the RNLI house asylum seekers on their premises or that the organisation performs missions to move migrants to secret locations, which he described as "ludicrous", as well as "completely baseless and untrue". He said: "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. Yet they and their families are being threatened by those who would hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard. Their action, in contrast, is wholly unacceptable in a civilised society. We will take whatever steps we can, to care for and protect our people and their families."
Mr Sparkes also attempted to outline facts to fight the fictitious claims being spread online about the RNLI's connection to migrant crossings in the Channel. He added: "RNLI lifeboats were tasked by the coastguard and launched 9,058 times in 2025: 109 of those launches were to those in distress in the Channel, representing 1.2 per cent of the RNLI’s total rescue work."
"Nearly 95 per cent, of those who crossed the English Channel in small boats last year, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, were picked up by the UK Border Force. Our mission, and our tasking is to rescue those women, children and men in danger of drowning. Anyone rescued from a small boat by the RNLI is immediately handed over to the UK’s immigration authorities. Illegal immigration is a political issue; the RNLI exists to save lives at sea."
