Abusing RNLI volunteers 'wholly unacceptable', charity boss Peter Sparkes says after boats were blocked from bringing migrants ashore

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 8 original reports, 1 reprint

1. Tue, 8 September 2026

   2 reports
   • lbc.co.uk18:41first to reportedited after publishing
     Abusing RNLI volunteers 'wholly unacceptable', charity boss Peter Sparkes says after boats were blocked from bringing migrants ashore

     previouslyAbuse of RNLI staff and volunteers is 'wholly unacceptable', the charity’s chief executive has said

     Peter Sparkes said recent protests had 'generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding' about the charity, and condemned 'those who would hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard'

   • bbc.co.uk18:51
     Abuse of RNLI volunteers 'wholly unacceptable', chief says

     Peter Sparkes says there has been "deliberate misinformation" spread about the charity.

2. Wed, 9 September 2026

   2 reports
   • The Guardian World12:41edited after publishing
     Police working to protect RNLI in Dorset amid opposition to small boat rescues

     previously‘Their boat was sinking’: RNLI vows to keep rescuing asylum seekers despite attacks

     Charity vows to keep helping asylum seekers in Channel despite rightwing abuse as protesters gather outside HQ Three police forces on the south coast of England are working to protect lifeboat volunteers, staff and buildings from rightwing activists who blame the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for helping asylum seekers to land on the British coast. Dozens of Dorset police officers were posted outside the charity’s headquarters in Poole on Wednesday evening as about 50 people gathered to...

   • aol.co.uk21:46
     Fury in UK town as anti-migrant protesters gather outside RNLI HQ and hand out rape alarms

     One protester accused the RNLI of 'facilitating the bringing in of unvetted illegal men'.

3. Thu, 10 September 2026

   2 reports
   • aol.co.uk11:11
     RNLI volunteer branded a 'traitor' after far-right protests was helping demonstrators

     Neil, who was the target of threatening comments online after 120 asylum seekers were brought to safety in Portsmouth, Hants, was there 'purely for the safety' of protesters

     1 reprint

     • mirror.co.uk10 Sept, 11:11their copy
   • The Guardian World13:11
     RNLI steps up security after attacks by far-right agitators over small boat rescues

     Volunteers told to consider not wearing charity-branded clothing and to shut lifeboat stations if they feel in danger Police working to protect RNLI in Dorset The RNLI is increasing security after a backlash from far-right agitators over the lifeboat charity’s involvement in rescuing asylum seekers in the Channel and bringing them to UK shores. Volunteers have been told by the charity’s bosses that they should consider not wearing RNLI branded clothing if they feel this might put them at risk....

4. Fri, 11 September 2026

   2 reports
   • The Guardian World12:35
     RNLI reports ‘significant’ donations boost after being targeted by far right over small boats

     Charity condemns ‘disgraceful’ intimidation and insists it will continue core purpose of saving lives at sea UK politics live – latest updates The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has had a “significant” boost in donations since becoming a target of far-right agitators protesting over small boat crossings. The charity’s staff and volunteers have been subjected to “online and physical abuse” after involvement in a rescue on Sunday in which a dingy carrying asylum seekers was brought...

   • dailymail.com13:34
     Museum closes after volunteers are abused by anti-migrant protesters

     Poole Old Lifeboat Museum said it will remain shut while protests continue about the RNLI being used as a 'taxi service' for small boat crossings.