Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) crews have encountered increasing hostility, including “thuggery and intimidation,” from anti-migrant protesters, the chair of the Charity Commission, Dame Julia Unwin, stated during the commission’s annual public meeting. Unwin expressed concern that public debate around the issue of migrant rescues at sea has escalated into criminal abuse, causing some lifeboat stations to shut temporarily due to safety concerns.

Unwin emphasized the RNLI’s fundamental role in saving lives at sea, describing it as an “absolute duty” rather than a choice. She condemned recent harassment of RNLI volunteers, which has occurred over weeks, months, and even years, underscoring the organisation’s commitment to its core mission of rescuing people in peril, regardless of political or social controversy surrounding migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

Although responses to migrant vessels represent a small fraction—1.7 percent—of the RNLI’s annual callouts, crews have reportedly become focal points for far-right activists and anti-migrant demonstrators. Unwin stressed the importance of resisting what she termed the “normalisation of violence” in public discourse and reiterated the commission’s role in regulating charities that operate within the law, even if their activities provoke strong public disagreement.

The tension surrounding migrant rescues comes amid ongoing scrutiny of border enforcement and rescue capabilities. A report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch highlighted the death of Manpreet Kaur, a 36-year-old Indian woman who drowned after her boat got into trouble in September last year. The investigation found that Border Force officers were unable to effect a rescue and had requested help from the RNLI, but by that time she had already died. The report recommended enhanced training for Border Force personnel in conducting water rescues involving migrants.

Dame Julia Unwin’s comments underscore the complex intersection between humanitarian rescue efforts, border security, and public attitudes toward migration. The RNLI’s role, traditionally seen as apolitical and purely humanitarian, has become increasingly contentious as the UK grapples with rising migration across the Channel. While some advocate for stronger enforcement and express opposition to migrant crossings, others emphasize the legal and moral obligations to protect lives at sea, highlighting the challenge faced by RNLI volunteers caught between these competing pressures.

The Charity Commission remains committed to ensuring that registered charities adhere to their stated purposes while continuing to navigate the sensitivities around such politically charged issues. The ongoing dialogue reflects broader societal debates on immigration, security, and the responsibilities of volunteer rescue organisations in a changing landscape.