It has been revealed that Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) vessels, which had rescued 140 migrants from the English Channel, were refused entry to two major UK ports. The crews were subsequently compelled to disembark the migrants during significant protests.
Furthermore, the crews operating these boats faced threats of legal action should they attempt to approach either Southampton Port or Portsmouth Harbour in Hampshire. This led to the migrants being brought ashore at Eastney, also in Hampshire, where approximately 500 protestors gathered to confront police, firefighters, Border Force officials, and other authorities opposing the disembarkation operation.
Eastney, though part of Portsmouth, is situated several miles further east along the coastline from Portsmouth Harbour itself. Large crowds of demonstrators blocked traffic on the road leading away from the port, with photographs depicting police officers, equipped with riot shields, forming a blockade. This incident occurred just one day after a similar protest took place in Dover.
Ports Deny Entry and Legal Threats Issued
An open marine VHF radio broadcast confirmed that both the Southampton Vessel Traffic Service and the King's Harbour Master Portsmouth had explicitly denied the RNLI permission to enter their respective ports and their approaches. The broadcast further informed the RNLI coxswains from Bembridge and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight that any non-compliance would result in direct criminal prosecution against them.
A spokesperson for Associated British Ports (ABP) subsequently confirmed that the crew was instructed not to proceed to Southampton. The ABP representative stated: "ABP did receive an enquiry about landing recovered migrants at the Port of Southampton. We had to decline the enquiry as the Port did not have suitable reception facilities available. If there had been a safety of life at sea issue where Southampton was the closest port or if we had received a formal Direction from the authorities, then we would have played a role. Neither was the case in this situation."
Home Office Condemns Protests
The Home Office has issued a strong condemnation of the "intimidating and thuggish behaviour" displayed by the protestors at the beach. A spokesperson for the department confirmed: "All of those brought ashore have left the landing site and are being transported for processing in the usual way."
The RNLI's latest annual figures indicate that its lifeboat and lifeguard services assisted more than 36,000 individuals, with crews launching over 9,000 times annually to aid those in distress at sea. The RNLI maintains a steadfast commitment to its core principle of launching to the rescue of anyone at sea without prejudice or preference, regardless of circumstances.