RNLI

Both channels reported that the RNLI lifeboat station in Portsmouth was temporarily closed after the charity helped bring around 120 migrants ashore in the area earlier that month, which led to protests and abuse directed at volunteers. The RNLI said the closure was due to a duty of care to staff and that it hoped to reopen the station soon, with other stations providing search and rescue cover. BBC ONE West noted the closure had been in place since protests a week earlier and that two RNLI boats had been involved, while ITV1 added that volunteers were advised not to wear branded clothing, that police had made two arrests, and that a separate RNLI museum in Poole had also closed after verbal abuse incidents.

Key Claims by Channel

Wednesday 9 September 2026

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
RNLI staff and volunteers faced online and physical abuse, including being called traitors and having personal information shared.	Reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
Anti-migrant protests took place in Portsmouth on Sunday.	Reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
RNLI boats brought over 100 migrants ashore.	Reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
Only on one channel
Suella Braverman called for RNLI lifeboats to be refused entry to ports if carrying migrants.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
A protest took place at the RNLI headquarters in Poole.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
The Prime Minister called the abuse aimed at RNLI crews appalling.	Reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC One
Digital Secretary Lisa Nandy spoke with tech firms about the sharing of personal information.	Reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC One
A former RNLI crew member, now a Reform UK councillor, said misinformation online had inflamed tensions.	Reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC One
RNLI reported that Channel rescues account for 1.2% of its rescue work, with 109 out of over 9,000 launches.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
Nigel Farage previously accused the RNLI of running a taxi service for migrants.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
RNLI chief executive said 95% of migrants are brought ashore by border force, not lifeboats.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
RNLI volunteers are tasked by the Coast Guard.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
RNLI policy is to pick up anyone at sea without judgement or preference.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One
The RNLI has around 9,000 volunteers.	Not reported by Channel 5	Reported by BBC One

Thursday 10 September 2026

Claim
Widely reported · 5 or more of 6 channels
The RNLI is reviewing its security procedures following protests in Dover and Portsmouth.	Not reported by Channel 5		Reported by BBC One
Reported by a few · 2–4 channels
The RNLI helped bring migrants to shore.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
A protest took place at the RNLI headquarters in Poole.	Not reported by Channel 5			Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
Migrant rescue operations represent a small fraction of the RNLI's call-outs.	Not reported by Channel 5				Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
Some RNLI members had their photos and names shared on social media and were accused of treason.	Reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
RNLI volunteers were advised to consider not wearing branded clothing in public for their own safety.				Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
Sussex Police is investigating whether any criminal offences have been committed.		Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4		Not reported by Sky News
Only on one channel
In Portsmouth, protesters attempted to prevent migrants from being taken to Kent for processing.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4		Not reported by Sky News
The RNLI faced online criticism over its involvement in migrant rescues.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One		Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
The Conservative leader called on the government to do more and condemned violence against volunteers.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News		Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
The Pakistan under-19 cricket team was mistakenly targeted by protesters who thought they were migrants.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
The RNLI stated it will not change its core mission of saving lives at sea.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
Home Secretary met with senior police officers and urged them to use all powers necessary to deal with far-right groups and masked protesters.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Reported by Sky News
Extra security has been added at RNLI bases, especially on the south coast.		Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Not reported by Sky News
Protests were coordinated along the south coast.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV
RNLI is an apolitical organisation that responds to tasking.	Not reported by Channel 5	Not reported by BBC News	Not reported by BBC One	Not reported by Channel 4	Not reported by ITV	Reported by Sky News

Thursday 17 September 2026

Claim
Reported by all 2 channels
The RNLI lifeboat station in Portsmouth was temporarily closed.	Reported by BBC One
RNLI volunteers were abused online and targeted in person, with some accused of being traitors and advised not to wear branded clothing.	Reported by BBC One	Reported by ITV
Only on one channel
Hundreds of anti-immigration protesters gathered at the scene and scuffled with police as they tried to block the road.	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by ITV
Police made two arrests following the protests in Portsmouth.	Not reported by BBC One
Police were investigating whether online comments directed at the RNLI amounted to criminal behavior.	Not reported by BBC One	Reported by ITV
The RNLI's old lifeboat museum in Poole, Dorset, was closed after anti-migrant protesters verbally abused volunteers.	Not reported by BBC One
Two RNLI boats were sent out into the channel as part of the operation.	Reported by BBC One	Not reported by ITV
Volunteers were advised not to wear branded clothing in public.	Not reported by BBC One

This is a cross-channel consensus summary, not an objective account. Consensus can be uniformly wrong, or omit what only one channel covered.