RNLI volunteers threatened on shipping channel radio after bringing migrants ashore

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A police investigation is underway after “abhorrent” threats were made to RNLI volunteers and the Coastguard during an operation to bring almost 150 migrants ashore in Gosport after a small boat crossing.

The alleged threats of physical harm were made via the VHF shipping movements channel on Sunday night as the group of migrants arrived in the seaside town. The Home Office said 149 migrants were believed to be on board.

French media reported the vessel appeared to have set off from the Utah Beach area of Normandy on Sunday morning before crossing the English Channel.

The migrants being brought ashore were condemned by hundreds of protesters who demonstrated on Sunday evening, with 12 people arrested for the violent protests.

This follows previous online abuse targeting RNLI volunteers in recent weeks after two migrant boats were brought to Hampshire before being transported to Dover for processing.

The latest threats have been condemned by the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS), a voluntary lifeboat operation in Stokes Bay.

A spokesperson said: “GAFIRS was made aware of threats to volunteer lifeboat crews broadcast over VHF radio.

“Our crews are volunteers tasked with saving lives at sea, without fear or favour. We operate on direct taskings by HM Coastguard and our volunteers regularly place themselves in danger to help people in peril along the south coast, including Portsmouth Harbour.

“These threats are disgusting and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our lifesaving colleagues in calling out such despicable behaviour.

“Our crews should be allowed to carry out their lifesaving jobs – such as our recent incidents helping a boat aground in the harbour, and a yacht that had got lost in the fog – without fear of physical violence.

“We hope those that are responsible for such abhorrent acts are quickly found and dealt with by the police. We will continue to put those in danger at sea as our priority and will continue to help with incidents, as directed by the Coastguard, with any task they send us to.”

VHF Channel 11 is an open channel where seafarers are told of shipping movements and safety reports under Portsmouth King’s Harbour Master (KHM).

Mariners normally use the channel to warn others about potential obstacles, obstructions, or sudden changes in weather.

HM Coastguard said Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary was notified about the ”malicious VHF radio activity”, and the incident has been referred to the communications regulator Ofcom.

A police spokesperson said they had received a report relating to four suspicious broadcast messages transmitted over VHF radio.

The messages were sent between 10pm on October 4 and 6pm on October 5.

“The broadcasts were made on an open channel. Enquiries are ongoing as part of our investigation and we are working with our colleagues from MoD Police and the RNLI as part of this process.”

During a visit to Gosport’s Haslar Marina earlier this week, Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf criticised: “Anybody involved in assisting and aiding and abetting the invasion of this country should ask themselves very seriously the question of if this is something that they can live with themselves for doing”.

A RNLI spokesperson confirmed the recent threats over VHF were reported to the police.

They said: “Our crews remain focused on our purpose to save lives at sea, and it is unacceptable that they are exposed to threats of any nature.

“It is not appropriate for us to comment on specific incidents. We are working closely with Hampshire Police and appropriate authorities and where VHF is used inappropriately to threaten our crews, we will not hesitate to ensure robust action is taken.

“Our priority remains to care for and protect our people and their families.”

A mariner with knowledge of VHF broadcasts said it will be incredibly hard to track down who made the broadcasts.

They said: “The coastguard will have a recording of it and possibly KHM, but the broadcasts are crackly and very hard to pinpoint.

“They’ll know a rough area where it was broadcast from but that will be a huge area. It’s the same when false ‘maydays’ are heard on VHF.

“These people are very hard to track down unless they continue to broadcast which can be found using directional equipment. So the chances of finding someone is very low, which makes this even more worrying.”

Portsmouth Lifeboat Station at Eastney Point was shut in September after staff were threatened and abused in person and online.

That followed the transiting of 120 migrants to the area on September 6, which sparked mass demonstrations leading to arrests, charges and prison sentences. Black-shirted men wearing balaclavas were spotted at the protests.

The RNLI spokesperson confirmed that the station was made operational again on October 5 to ”provide lifesaving cover in the area alongside partner agencies”.

Speaking on behalf of the KHM, a Royal Navy spokesperson said: “The King’s Harbour Master team at Portsmouth Port work with the government and within international maritime law to ensure the safety and security of all vessels operating in and around Dockyard Port of Portsmouth – this includes military, commercial, leisure, and emergency vessels.

“We have reported all abuse aimed at them to Hampshire Police for investigation.”

Many people are calling for tougher action on the migrant crossings, and on Sunday around 350 protestors gathered at Haslar Marina after hearing about the migrant boat landing.

A total of 11 police units were brought in from six different forces to keep control of the situation, with a dispersal order being put in place which covered the town and 12 people arrested despite social media claims that the demonstrations were peaceful.

Offences included assaults against police officers and emergency workers; failing to comply with dispersal order conditions; failing to comply with prohibited assembly direction; criminal damage; drunk and disorderly in a public place; affray; racially aggravated public order incidents, and others including obstruction of a highway by blocking ambulances.

It cost Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary more than £200,000 to police the demonstration, and Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones previously said this could rise to £1m a month if the situation continues to escalate.

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