RNLI 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 Dover and Portsmouth, which saw the charity targeted for its rescue work bringing some small-boat 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.”
