An RNLI volunteer who was wrongly accused of helping small boat migrants come to the shore in Portsmouth has issued a message for those attacking him online: “I’m not a traitor”.
Neil was captured on film by protesters near Portsmouth Harbour on Sunday night amid angry scenes as around 140 migrants were brought to land before being taken away in coaches to a processing centre.
An image of the volunteer from the footage was then shared on social media with some users calling him a “traitor”, and one accusing him of “putting women and children at risk”. Disturbingly, one post claimed to have his full name.
On Thursday, Sussex Police said an investigation had been launched with officers beginning to review abusive social media content directed at volunteers.
Speaking to BBC Verify, Neil said his RNLI vessel was in the area to light up the beach for the safety of the protesters who had entered the sea.
Neil, who has been an RNLI volunteer for more than a decade, said that his work to help those at sea would continue, despite the abuse.
He said: “I’ll be back on the boat when the pager goes off. It’d be nice for those people who called me a traitor to know I’m not a traitor. I’m just a volunteer crew.”
The anger directed at RNLI crews has been met by a wave of support for the volunteers. One person replied to a post with Neil’s image, saying: “Thank you to all the RNLI volunteers who put themselves at risk to rescue every person in distress on the water.”
But on Wednesday night, around 50 people gathered outside the RNLI’s headquarters in Poole for a protest against the charity over the small boats migrants issue.
On Tuesday night, the chief executive of the RNLI, Peter Sparkes, was moved to make a statement over abuse aimed at his colleagues.
He 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.”
The issue was also raised in the Commons, where Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said she has seen “very disturbing posts” identifying “brave RNLI rescuers”.
Five years ago, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused the RNLI of serving as a “taxi service for illegal immigration”.
This week, Mr Sparkes said: “The rumours that we house asylum seekers on RNLI premises, or that there are RNLI missions to move migrants to secret locations … are completely baseless and untrue.
“Illegal migration is a polarising subject that generates strong views, locally and nationally. 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.”
