RNLI defends crews harangued for rescuing migrants

‘If you look at social media, around almost any issue you will find very strong views one way or the other’

THE RNLI has defended lifeboat crews for helping to rescue migrants and bring them ashore after they faced a backlash from the public.

Mark Dowie, the RNLI chief executive, said he felt compelled to comment after volunteers reported being heckled for bringing migrants to safety.

It comes as record numbers try to cross the treacherous Channel to get to the UK, despite vows from the Home Office to make the route from mainland Europe “unviable”.

Mr Dowie said the sea-rescue charity was “doing the right thing” by going to people’s aid, regardless of their reason for being in the water.

“The people of these islands (the UK) fundamentally are decent people, and all decent people will see this as humanitarian work of the highest order,” he said.

“Our crews should not have to put up with some of the abuse they received.”

A London RNLI crew hit out on social media at the weekend after volunteers were verbally assaulted.

Crews also described being on the receiving end of an “angry mob” after coming back from a rescue, with members of the public shouting at the migrants to go “back to France”.

Mr Dowie acknowledged the migrant crisis was a divisive issue but said Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers simply wanted to prevent people dying at sea. He said: “We have seen the negative reaction to the issue over the course of the past five years, since this route was opened up.

“It’s polarising, but it’s humanitarian work of the highest order. That’s what we should remember ... our volunteers get out of bed in the middle of the night, leave their employment, leave their families, and go out and do this because they believe in doing the right thing.

“If you look at social media, around almost any issue you will find very strong views one way or the other. We are doing the right thing.”

Immigration officials in Dover, Kent, have become so overwhelmed with migrants they have to register them in a car park.