Volunteers are facing “unacceptable abuse”.
RNLI boat (Image: Getty)
The RNLI has issued a major update on its donations as the organisation’s chief says volunteers are facing abuse from anti-migrant protesters. The charity said it has seen a “significant increase” in donations this week, as well as new supporters, though others have also withdrawn their support.
It wrote: “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of donations we have received this week, and we’ve welcomed a number of new supporters to our charity. As always, we’re so grateful for the support we receive from our amazing supporters – without them we would not be able to deliver our vital lifesaving service.
“Sadly, we have also been contacted by a number of supporters and members of the public who have informed us that they wish to withdraw their support in recent days. Everyone at the RNLI remains focused on our core purpose of saving lives at sea.”
This comes after hundreds of protesters descended on Eastney, near Portsmouth, late on Sunday night, vowing not to let three coaches of migrants through.
RNLI vessels wanted to land at Southampton and Portsmouth Harbour, but were threatened with legal action if they tried to bring the asylum seekers ashore.
They were then taken to Eastney, several miles away, where they were met by hundreds of furious protesters.
Some of the thugs involved branded RNLI volunteers “traitors” after they brought migrants to shore, and even published photographs of the volunteers online, leading to fears they could be targeted.
Peter Sparkes, the head of the charity, slammed those hiding “behind a balaclava or a keyboard” who are threatening volunteers. He hit back at the abuse towards lifeboat volunteers, claiming it is “wholly unacceptable in a civilised society”.
Mr Sparkes 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.”
MORE UPDATES TO FOLLOW…