Police camp outside RNLI in Eastney amid "traitor" hate campaign against charity over migrants rescue

Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Police were spotted camped outside an RNLI station where migrants were brought ashore on Sunday after a hate campaign erupted against the life-saving charity, branded by some as 'traitors' and a 'collection service'. Two police vehicles were positioned on Tuesday outside the RNLI's Eastney base after reports emerged the charity is being targeted for its involvement in the rescue of 120 migrants brought to Portsmouth.The controversial decision to bring the asylum seekers to Portsmouth - which was slammed by Portsmouth City Council leader Steve Pitt as putting people 'at risk' - sparked protests with balaclava-clad protesters attempting to prevent them from entering the city. As tensions rose in the area, multiple police officers - including riot police - attended the scene, with reports confirming seven were assaulted during the incident.Locals near the Eastney lifeboat station told The News they believe police are still outside the base to prevent any attack. 'There's been a lot of hate online against the RNLI with chat about smashing them up,' one person said. Another person said: 'Police are there to stop any trouble for the lifeboat station as there's been threats online.' Other locals branded the RNLI's role as being a 'collection service' and a 'taxi' rather than saving lives, whilst 'facilitating illegal entry into the UK'. Responding to why police vehicles were outside the RNLI's Eastney base, a police spokesperson said: 'Public order incidents will factor into our ongoing patrol plans in the days following which is why the vehicles were seen in the area.' The potential targeting of the RNLI's Eastney base comes despite it being volunteers of Bembridge and Yarmouth RNLI on the Isle of Wight that brought the migrants to shore in Portsmouth. Volunteers from the Isle of Wight stations have seen their faces, names and other personal details circulated on social media.Balaclava-clad protesters branded the lifesaving crews as 'traitors' for assisting people crossing the Channel. Two volunteers in particular appear to have become the focus of the abuse, while social media pages belonging to other RNLI stations have also been flooded with hostile messages. After arriving in Eastney, social media videos show RNLI volunteers being shouted at: 'How do you feel bringing illegal migrants into this country?' Online comments have also been quick to stick the boot into the volunteers. One message read: "It will be hard and painful. But all facilitators will need to be subject to treason trials." Another simply wrote: "Traitors. Name and shame." Other footage posted also showed people shouting abuse at an RNLI crew on their boat. Further calls of 'traitors' and 'Yellow jackets, yellowbellies'. Another protestor described the lifesaving crews as 'scum'. Chief constable of Hampshire Police Alexis Boon said protesters caused 'some serious problems' and a small number of officers were treated for injuries. He said police 'will go after' individuals after they have been identified. 'Violence and damage have no part in peaceful protests and my officers did not deserve to be assaulted. They worked incredibly hard and courageously and did not deserve what happened,' he said. A police spokesperson said there were still no arrests before adding: 'We're in the early stages of reviewing all available body-worn video and other footage.' An RNLI spokesperson reportedly said: 'We are a voluntary lifesaving rescue service, tasked in the UK by HM Coastguard to assist anyone who is in trouble on the water. 'We will rescue those in danger without judgement or preference, as the RNLI has been doing for more than 200 years.'