EXCLUSIVE: Two RNLI rescuers have had their identities posted online by Portsmouth protesters who branded them 'collaborators' and 'traitors' for saving migrants stranded in the Channel17:28, 08 Sep 2026Updated 21:42, 08 Sep 2026Riot police clash with protestors in Portsmouth after small boat arrivalTwo RNLI heroes were named and pictured online by Portsmouth protestors who condemned them as 'collaborators' and 'traitors' for rescuing asylum seekers in the Channel as the RNLI chief hits out at the online and sometimes physical abuse faced by "selfless" volunteers.‌The two men were identified in a post by a 'Nationalist' who said their addresses were also being shared online. He wrote: "We now have names for these two traitors helping 140 Asylum seekers into our country last night. We also now have one address that I believe is circulating in telegram groups."‌He later added: "Let’s make it clear. I don’t wish any harm on these two individuals. Their names were posted on X before my post, and I am only reporting what I have seen in groups such as Telegram and other platforms, so stop crying like woke babies."‌RNLI Chief Executive Peter Sparks condemned the latest abuse faced by volunteers, saying: "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 wahtever steps we can, to caer for and protect our people and their families."But Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope not Hate, said: "He has literally put a target on their backs. When the far right say they are peaceful, just remember this post." He added that the RNLI crew 'work tirelessly and at great personal risk to save others.'"‌He warned that it had 19,000 'likes'. The post came hours after RNLI crews faced abuse from protestors in Portsmouth. It garnered more than half a million views in a matter of hours, with people posting various vile messages about the two men.RNLI chief hits out at 'unacceptable' abusePeter Sparkes, RNLI Chief Executive, warned their staff had been subject to online, and in the worst cases, physical abuse. He said: "The RNLI is an apolitical organisation; we are completely independent of government, powered by remarkable, kind people and fuelled by the incredible generosity of the public. For over two hundred years, in all weathers, in peace and war, the RNLI and our amazing volunteers and staff have selflessly dedicated themselves to rescuing people they have never met before, without judgment, fear or favour.‌"When His Majesty’s Coastguard tasks a RNLI lifeboat crew to launch to a vessel or people in distress, whenever and wherever they need us, we will. We will always answer the call, whoever needs our help. It is a legal and moral obligation our country has, under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea and SOLAS, Safety of Life at Sea. Courage is the RNLI’s currency; dependable, loyal, service to others and our nations is our hallmark."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."‌RNLI lifeboats were tasked by the coastguard and launched 9,058 times in 2025. He added that 109 of those launches were for people in distress in the Channel, representing 1.2 per cent of the RNLI’s total rescue work. Nearly 95 per cent, of those who crossed the English Channel in small boats last year, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, were picked up by the UK Border Force.Mr Sparkes added: "Our mission, and our tasking is to rescue those women, children and men in danger of drowning. Anyone rescued from a small boat by the RNLI is immediately handed over to the UK’s immigration authorities. Illegal immigration is a political issue; the RNLI exists to save lives at sea. I have seen ludicrous rumours that we house asylum seekers on RNLI premises, or that there are RNLI missions to move migrants to secret locations.‌"These rumours 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. Stand by them, not against them and their families. I am extremely proud of and grateful for their vital lifesaving work that meant 389 families welcomed their loved one homes safely last year."'Volunteers have one duty - to save lives, no matter who it is'Social media manager Simon Harris, 42, of Hockley, Essex, who has raised more than £337,000 for the RNLI since 2021, said that the 'doxxing' of the RNLI volunteers - where they are named and have personal details posted online - should be made a criminal offence.He told the Mirror: "My reasoning all along has been that RNLI volunteers have one duty and one duty alone - to save lives at any, no matter who it is. As they rely entirely on charitable funding, any call for defunding puts all lives at risk. It’s a complete nonsense that they should have their funding ‘pulled’ when they are only responsible for around 5% of all small boat rescues, and only 1-2% of their overall workload annually is for small boats.‌"Even if you’re passionate about them not helping migrants, the ‘defund’ argument falls apart before it even gets going. I’ve never been saved by the RNLI, and the latest dog whistling leading to volunteers being doxxed is disgraceful. Doing this should be a criminal offence - they’re not even paid to save lives and the government needs to get a grip on this behaviour."‌Mr Harris started fundraising when the RNLI came under fire from Reform leader Nigel Farage for their involvement in small boat rescues. The RNLI confirmed they were aware of the posts and supporting the crew members involved. A Government source told the Mirror: “The targeting of brave lifeboat volunteers who put themselves at risk to save lives is despicable. They should be given the respect and gratitude they deserve, not subjected to vile abuse.”There were countless messages of support for the RNLI online, and Simon said around £5,000 had been raised since Sunday for his GoFundMe site.'We saw cops being hit, fences ripped down and awful language'Toby Merritt-Smith, who found himself stuck on his yacht as the marina went into lockdown in Portsmouth on Sunday, said some people had come to the area "for a fight". He said: "Peaceful protest is OK, but this certainly wasn't that."‌He returned from Gunwharf Quays with his wife, son, grandfather, mother, stepfather, and two brothers on board. He was notified by radio of the dinghy carrying asylum seekers behind him."I didn't know whether we might have to have got involved in terms of rescuing people," he said. "You hear about migrants coming into the country a lot, but when it's on your doorstep, and when you're literally a stone's throw away from the incident, you never know what's going to happen next."‌Once the boat docked Mr Merritt-Smith was able to organise getting his son home with his mother, but as soon as they left the marina went into lockdown. He said: "That's when all the emergency services started turning up, hundreds of them, coastguard, fire service, you name it, drones up in the sky."Then they were just coming by the hundreds, the protesters... we watched bottles being thrown, police officers being hit, language was absolutely awful, fences being ripped down, chains being cut off the gates into our marina."He also described police vehicles with slashed tyres and smashed windows. The family stayed on board the yacht until the police confirmed it was safe to leave. Hampshire Police said a small number of officers were injured and vehicles were damaged, with an investigation now under way to identify those responsible.Article continues belowThe government said people had a right to peaceful protest but condemned "intimidating and thuggish behaviour" at the demonstration. According to policing minister Sarah Jones, about 200 protesters arrived at the harbour at intending to block three coaches that were due to take the arrivals for processing.