An RNLI volunteer, identified as Neil, has stated he is not a "traitor" after being subjected to online abuse and false accusations of assisting migrants arriving by small boats. Neil and other RNLI crew members were filmed near Portsmouth Harbour during anti-migrant protests, and activists shared footage online, inaccurately claiming the crew had helped migrants reach shore. Some online posts included incorrect names of RNLI crew members and encouraged public identification and "naming and shaming" of volunteers.
Neil clarified that the lifeboat was present to illuminate the beach and protect protesters who had entered the water, not to assist the migrants. He reported receiving abusive messages, including suggestions of being denied service in pubs and threats to track down his family. At least one post was removed by X for violating its rules. The online campaign gained significant traction, with some posts viewed at least two million times.
This incident occurred as approximately 60 people gathered outside RNLI's headquarters in Poole, Dorset, to express concerns about potential migrant boat arrivals on the central south coast. This protest followed a recent rescue operation where two RNLI lifeboats assisted approximately 140 migrants in the English Channel, bringing them ashore at Eastney, Portsmouth. The lifeboat carrying the migrants was reportedly denied permission to land at Southampton Port or Portsmouth Harbour, with crews warned of potential criminal prosecution for entering these ports. Consequently, the boat proceeded to Eastney, a less central landing point.
Around 500 anti-migrant protesters had previously gathered at Eastney, with a significant police and Border Force presence. RNLI volunteers involved in the Portsmouth operation have since faced threats and abuse.
Members of the anti-migrant group Poole Patriots were among those protesting outside the RNLI headquarters in Poole. They accused the RNLI of facilitating criminal activity by bringing unvetted young men into the country. Some protesters distributed rape alarms, linking the arrivals to potential sexual assault and violent crime, and claiming the RNLI was acting as a "taxi service" for asylum seekers.
Protesters emphasized their grievances were directed at the organization's leadership rather than the volunteers. Speakers at the protest called for the RNLI to cease its involvement in migrant rescues, framing it as a patriotic concern. The RNLI increased security and closed public-facing facilities at its headquarters during the protest. A memorial sculpture outside the building was cordoned off and covered.
Some protesters expressed views that migrants were not genuine refugees and were exploiting the system, drawing parallels with crime statistics and accusing the government of mismanagement. The RNLI has not officially commented on the specific accusations or the protests, but its mandate is to save lives at sea regardless of the circumstances.