RNLI chief condemns ‘wholly unacceptable’ abuse of staff

The chief executive of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution Peter Sparkes has condemned the abuse and threats the charity’s staff have been receiving in recent weeks from “those who would hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard”.

He has made the comments as RNLI workers have been subject to a wave of abuse amid right-wing anti-immigration protests in Dover and Portsmouth over the last week.

This follows long running criticism raised by the far right of the charity’s role rescuing refugees in difficulty crossing the English Channel in small boats.

But Sparkes says the recent protests and criticism of the charity’s work “have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel”.

He warned that “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,” said Sparkes.

“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.”

He said that the charity has “seen ludicrous rumours that we house asylum seekers on RNLI premises, or that there are RNLI missions to move migrants to secret locations. These rumours are completely baseless and untrue”.

“Illegal migration is a polarising subject that generates strong views, locally and nationally,” added Sparkes.

“But please be mindful of misinformation, the impact it has upon others, and be reassured that the RNLI and our crews strive only to prevent people like you and me from drowning at sea.”

Meanwhile the charity’s supporters have rallied in defence of RNLI workers.

An open letter in support of the volunteers and staff has been signed by 90,000 people.

It says that they “do an incredible job to make sure all those in waters around the UK are safe” and condemned the “minority of people who are abusing you” who “do not speak for us”.