Attacks and abuse directed at RNLI volunteers following a major migrant rescue involving Isle of Wight lifeboat crews “absolutely beggar belief”, the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council has said.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon made the comments at a Full Council meeting at County Hall earlier this week (16th September), saying there had been “a lot of misinformation” surrounding migration and “wholly inappropriate comment” on social media.
His remarks follow abuse directed at RNLI crews after the rescue of migrants in the English Channel earlier this month.
The RNLI has confirmed that its Portsmouth lifeboat station has been temporarily taken off service after volunteers were targeted for helping migrants at sea.
It follows an incident in Portsmouth in which 2 crew members were named and pictured online by protesters.
As previously reported by Island Echo, lifeboats from Bembridge and Yarmouth were tasked at around 10:35 on 6th September to a large migrant dinghy around halfway between the Isle of Wight and Cherbourg.
More than 150 migrants were subsequently brought ashore at Eastney, where Police in riot gear were deployed as protesters gathered.
The RNLI’s Chief Executive, Peter Sparkes, later revealed that volunteers and staff – including those from Bembridge and Yarmouth – had been subjected to online abuse and, in the worst cases, physical abuse.
He blamed what he described as “deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding” about the charity, its purpose and the way its crews are tasked.
Speaking at County Hall this week, Councillor Bacon has said:
“I would like to comment briefly on the migrant issue. There’s been a lot of misinformation and particularly on social media a lot of wholly inappropriate comment.
“The attacks on the RNLI absolutely beggar belief.”
Councillor Bacon said councillors had also received correspondence earlier in the summer from a group based in Wootton which raised the issue and, he said, made “certain assumptions”.
Addressing suggestions surrounding asylum accommodation on the Isle of Wight, Councillor Bacon has said:
“There is currently no asylum dispersal accommodation on the Island, and the Home Office has not established any…nor has it plans that we’re aware of to do so.
“In respect of asserted fears about migrants being landed on the Island, there are no facilities and the likelihood of this happening is absolutely minimal.”
The Isle of Wight Council said following the incident that Border Force had confirmed those involved in the crossing would not be brought ashore on the Isle of Wight and that the intention throughout was for them to be landed on the mainland and transported to Kent.
The authority also said it had received no notification that the Isle of Wight was being considered as a location for the disembarkation or processing of people arriving on small boats.
Councillor Bacon told Wednesday’s meeting that there had never been any question of the migrants involved in the incident being brought to the Isle of Wight.
He added that the Island’s RNLI crews became involved because there was no other resource available.
The RNLI previously said it would take whatever steps it could to protect its volunteers, staff and their families following the threats and abuse.
