RNLI steps up security with staff told not to wear charity's branding after Portsmouth migrant protests
An anti-migrant gathering was held outside an RNLI building
The RNLI has stepped up its security as volunteers and staff have been warned not to wear the charity’s branding because of the “unacceptable abuse” they have faced from anti-migrant protesters.
The charity has issued security advice in the wake of protests in Portsmouth, which saw the charity targeted for its rescue work bringing migrants ashore.
This week, footage posted on social media showed volunteers being labelled as “traitors” after helping a dinghy to safety in Portsmouth and protests have been held at RNLI sites, including on Wednesday, when a small anti-migrant gathering was held at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset.
In a statement on Thursday, an RNLI spokesman said: “Given the unacceptable abuse our people have faced, and with protest activity taking place at RNLI locations, we have taken action to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of our volunteers and staff.
“As well as enhancing security at RNLI locations, we issued guidance to our people earlier this week on how to keep themselves safe.
“This guidance included how to manage potentially challenging interactions with members of the public, and where appropriate, choosing not to wear RNLI-branded clothing.
“Our people have been reminded that their safety comes first, and they are encouraged to report relevant incidents internally and, where appropriate, to the police.”
Volunteers have been told they are “empowered to make decisions to keep yourself, your team or crew safe” and “go home or close for the day if you need to”, the BBC reported.
The charity’s chief executive Peter Sparkes previously said abuse of RNLI volunteers is “wholly unacceptable in a civilised society” and that there had been “deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel”.
A volunteer, named only as Neil, was pictured on social media and labelled a traitor. He told the BBC: “We were tasked to Langstone Harbour to carry out illumination of the beach for safety of the protesters.
“We were there, as I said, purely for the safety of the protesters that were in the water.
“It’d be nice for those people who called me a traitor to know that I’m not a traitor.”