The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has advised volunteers to consider removing their badges in public after a backlash over its role rescuing migrants on a mega-dinghy at the weekend.
RNLI staff have faced online and physical abuse since it brought 120 migrants ashore on Sunday after rescuing them from the dinghy, which had crossed the 70 miles from Utah Beach in Normandy.
Hundreds of anti-migrant protesters blocked roads in an attempt to stop the migrants being transferred to Dover for processing.
Leading politicians have accused the RNLI of acting as a “taxi service”, with some volunteers called “traitors” online.
In a message to volunteers, Peter Sparkes, the charity’s chief executive, said “in the current climate” the RNLI had decided it was “prudent” to review its security processes and procedures to ensure that its volunteers remained safe no matter their role.
Volunteers are being advised to consider not wearing RNLI badges or clothing with RNLI logos when representing the charity in public places.
They are also being advised to challenge anyone not wearing ID at a lifeboat station and to consider removing themselves from a conversation with a member of the public if they feel uncomfortable.
RNLI chiefs have also advised staff to feel empowered to close lifeboat stations if they feel it is unsafe for them to remain open.
Since the rescue of the mega-dinghy, questions have been raised about the involvement of the RNLI, including by Reform UK’s Suella Braverman.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the charity’s vice-president, accused her of “missing the point” after she said every British port must refuse what she called the “RNLI taxi service entry”.
Mr Sparkes said the abuse of RNLI volunteers – who worked to save lives at sea irrespective of who they were – was “wholly unacceptable in a civilised society”.
In a message sent to volunteers, Mr Sparkes said HM Coastguard had requested the RNLI’s participation in the rescue on Sunday.
“This was the first time we have been involved in a Channel crossing incident of this magnitude this far west,” he said.
Initially lifeboats from Bembridge and Yarmouth stations were dispatched to bring the migrants back to Portsmouth, but they were later joined by crews from four more stations after “large numbers of protesters were in and near the water in Portsmouth”.
During the incident, the RNLI said it also helped to ensure the safety of anti-migrant protesters in the sea off Portsmouth.
The vast majority of migrants are intercepted and brought to UK shores by Border Force. Only two per cent are rescued by the RNLI, which the coastguard calls for help if there is a risk to life or Border Force vessels are overwhelmed by numbers.
One of the volunteers, Neil, who was called a traitor online and had his image shared, said he had no role in the rescue of the migrants but instead was on the scene to help protesters who had gone into the water to try to challenge the migrants.
“We were there, purely for the safety of the protesters in the water,” he told the BBC. “It would be nice for those people who called me a traitor to know that I’m not a traitor.”
Sir Robin, the first man to sail solo non-stop around the world, urged people abusing lifeboat crews to “have some sense about this”.
He said: “The people who are abusing the volunteers – I wonder how abusive they’d be if they suddenly got a stitch when they’re out swimming? They’d be screaming for the RNLI to rescue them and the RNLI would do it.”
In his message to volunteers, Mr Sparkes said “at times of increased media activity like this it is only natural that members of the public, supporters, family and friends may have questions about our life-saving work in the Channel”.
“When our crews are tasked by HM Coastguard, we will go to the aid of those who need our assistance, including those crossing one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes in small, overcrowded and unseaworthy boats,” he said.
“When called upon, we rescue people – men, women, and children – in distress.”
He said the RNLI would then pass over responsibility for the people it rescued to the ambulance service, HM Coastguard, police or Border Force.
On Tuesday, it emerged that the RNLI was blocked from taking Channel migrants to Southampton after the port determined there was no risk to life and it did not have the facilities to manage the 140 asylum seekers being landed.
The two lifeboats were also refused entry to Portsmouth on security grounds as they would have had to pass through military-controlled waters and pass the city’s naval base.
They were instead forced to land at a ferry port in Eastney, several miles away in Hampshire, where police, firefighters, Border Force and other officials faced protests by up to 200 anti-migrant activists and residents.