Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers are reportedly planning to disregard advice from the charity to stop wearing its badge in public. This decision comes after some volunteers were targeted by anti-migrant protesters following rescues of migrants at sea.
The RNLI issued guidance to its staff and volunteers to help ensure their safety and well-being, particularly after incidents in Dover and Portsmouth last weekend where volunteers were reportedly called 'traitors' and faced threatening posts on social media.
Some RNLI members view the advice to avoid wearing branded clothing as 'giving in to bullies.' David Wimble, a former RNLI volunteer of 20 years and a Reform UK councillor, stated that many volunteers he has spoken with feel defiant and intend to continue wearing their RNLI jumpers and badges with pride.
"The feeling among the volunteers I have spoken to is, 'What does it say about us if we give in to bullies?'" Wimble said. "They plan to continue to wear the badge in their communities with pride – as they always have done."
Protests have also occurred at RNLI locations, including a gathering at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset, last Wednesday. In one widely shared social media video, volunteers were shown being verbally accosted after assisting a dinghy carrying approximately 140 migrants to safety near Portsmouth.
The RNLI confirmed that donations to the organization have increased following the controversy, with the British public rallying in support. An online petition backing the charity had garnered 130,000 signatures by the previous day.
In its statement, the RNLI acknowledged the "unacceptable abuse" faced by its personnel and confirmed that protest activity had taken place at its sites. The charity stated that in addition to enhancing security, they issued guidance on how volunteers can keep themselves safe, which included managing challenging interactions and, where appropriate, choosing not to wear RNLI-branded clothing. Volunteers were reminded that their safety is paramount and encouraged to report incidents internally and to the police.
Wimble expressed disgust at the intimidation directed at volunteers, adding that the thought of an RNLI boat not going out due to such pressure, leading to loss of life, is deeply concerning. He described the protesters as being "wrong."