Children of RNLI lifeboat volunteers bullied at school

Children of RNLI lifeboat volunteers in Gosport and Portsmouth say they’ve faced bullying at school after their parents rescued migrants arriving in the English Channel. Allegations were raised during a Portsmouth City Council debate on giving the RNLI the Freedom of the City honour. A letter to the council claimed two crew members’ children were targeted because their fathers are involved with the charity. Volunteers said they were confronted in public, while crew members’ names were published online and suspicious vehicles were reportedly seen near the station. Some were branded “traitors,” and another Portsmouth lifeboat station was temporarily forced to close due to threats. RNLI volunteers were also advised to avoid wearing badges in public.