'A disgrace': Donna Jones criticises 'unacceptable' abuse hurled at RNLI after Gosport migrant boat landing
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Verbal threats hurled at RNLI and Coastguard crews have been reported to the police
Vile threats made to RNLI and Coastguard crews via a shipping movements channel are “completely unacceptable”, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) has said.
Donna Jones, Conservative, was left disgusted after volunteer personnel were abused while carrying out their duties at sea. As reported by The News, crews were subject to slurs and insults through the VHF Shipping Channel 11 while working on the migrant boat landing on Sunday (October 4).
The broadcast channel, under the watch of the Portsmouth King’s Harbour Master (KHM), is usually used to report shipping movements and safety concerns at sea. Instead, the open communication method was used to send threats to volunteers who saved lives at sea.
“The level of abuse directed towards RNLI volunteers is a disgrace and completely unacceptable,” Ms Jones said. “They bravely put their lives at risk to keep others safe on the water and should not be threatened and vilified while doing so.
“I’m saddened to hear they have been targeted again following Sunday night’s landing and I hope firm action will be taken against those found culpable. The RNLI have been put in the insidious position of having to manage small boats arriving illegally off the south coast.”
The Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) - a voluntary lifeboat operation in Stokes Bay - described the threats of physical harm as “despicable”. An RNLI spokesperson said they are working with the police to resolve the matter, and it was “unacceptable” that they were exposed to threats of this nature.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard confirmed that the matter has been reported to the communications regulator Ofcom. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary previously said they had received a report shortly after 7.45pm on October 4 relating to four suspicious broadcast messages transmitted over VHF radio. The messages were sent between 10pm on October 4 and 6pm on October 5. Enquiries are ongoing.
Protestors gathered at Haslar Marina after 149 migrants were brought to Fort Blockhouse, before being transported to a processing centre in Kent. The VHF threats were aimed at anyone involved in bringing migrants ashore.
The Home Office previously said it has established “contingency plans” for transporting migrants, but did not elaborate as to whether Gosport will be come a regular site for landings alongside Dover.
Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage said: “Volunteers who risk their own safety to save the lives of others are heroes. The Home Office is putting them in an appalling situation by forcing them to carry out a role which should be fulfilled by Border Force."
Both Portsmouth Labour MPs, Stephen Morgan and Amanda Martin, and head of Reform UK in Gosport, Councillor Paul Carter, have been approached for comment.