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.
Charity workers were targeted while bringing small boat migrants ashore during protests in Dover and Portsmouth.
This week, footage posted on social media showed volunteers being labelled as ‘traitors’ after helping a dinghy to safety in Portsmouth.
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.
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‘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.’
Volunteers have been told they are ’empowered to make decisions to keep yourself, your team or crew safe’ and ‘go home or close for the day if you need to’, the BBC reported.
The charity’s chief executive Peter Sparkes previously said abuse of RNLI volunteers is ‘wholly unacceptable in a civilised society’ and that there had been ‘deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel’.
A volunteer, named only as Neil, was pictured on social media and labelled a traitor.
He told the BBC: ‘We were tasked to Langstone Harbour to carry out illumination of the beach for the safety of the protesters. We were there, as I said, purely for the safety of the protesters that were in the water.
‘It’d be nice for those people who called me a traitor to know that I’m not a traitor.’
Another serving volunteer with the RNLI, who spoke to the Press Association on condition of anonymity, said: ‘It’s both scary and frustrating.
‘The crew are parking away from the station and running to the boat, so their cars aren’t in the crew car park. Volunteers in the shop do not want to come in because they get abused and are elderly. I’ve personally removed my lifeboat RNLI crew sticker from my car as I don’t want it locally targeted.
‘It’s never been this bad and never felt this aggressive, where they actually want to publish your photo, and then list your address. They’re not just shaming you but actually encouraging a target on you.’
The charity is tasked by HM Coastguard to assist when they are alerted to incidents in the water.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Sparkes said: ‘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.’
A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: ‘We continue to work with our partners, including the RNLI, to ensure they have sufficient security measures in place where appropriate.
‘As with any location where we receive reports of protest activity or criminal activity taking place, we will respond accordingly.’
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