Nicola Sturgeon has hit out at people who heckled RNLI crews rescuing migrants in the English Channel, saying it was "beyond depressing" the organisation was being forced to defend its work.
The head of the RNLI Mark Dowie spoke out after it emerged some crews had been subjected to verbal abuse as they came ashore with people they had saved from perilous situations at sea.
It comes as record numbers of migrants try to cross the potentially treacherous English Channel to get to the UK, despite vows from the Home Office to make the route from mainland Europe “unviable”.
A London RNLI crew hit out on social media at the weekend after volunteers were verbally assaulted.
READ MORE: Footage reveals RNLI rescue missions as migrants attempt to cross Channel
Crews also described being on the receiving end of an “angry mob” after coming back from a rescue, with members of the public shouting at the migrants to go “back to France”.
We are shocked and saddened to report some of our volunteer crew were verbally assaulted due to their role when reporting for duty tonight. This behaviour will not be tolerated. Thank you @metpoliceuk for your support.
— Tower RNLI (@TowerRNLI) July 23, 2021
Mr Dowie said RNLI volunteers simply wanted to prevent people dying at sea.
He said: “We have seen the negative reaction to the issue over the course of the last five years, since this route was opened up.
“It’s polarising, but it’s humanitarian work of the highest order. That’s what we should remember.
“Our volunteers get out of bed in the middle of the night, leave their employment, leave their families, and go out and do this because they believe in doing the right thing. Never doubt their commitment to that.
“If you look at social media, around almost any issue you will find very strong views one way or the other. We are doing the right thing.”
The head of the RNLI Mark Dowie
Nicola Sturgeon gave her backing to the RNLI's stance on social media, Tweeting that "migrants are human beings whose lives matter".
She wrote: "Beyond depressing that saving human life is work that an organisation is forced to ‘defend’.
"Migrants are human beings whose lives matter. Thank you, @RNLI for all that you do."
Beyond depressing that saving human life is work that an organisation is forced to ‘defend’. Migrants are human beings whose lives matter. Thank you, @RNLI for all that you do. https://t.co/FY2IidVvaD
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) July 28, 2021
Mr Dowie said the migrants’ dinghies were often overloaded and inadequate for such a perilous journey, with poor conditions on board and people suffering exposure, dehydration or other sickness, having sometimes spent more than 30 hours trying to teach the British mainland.
Mr Dowie said: “We have seen life jackets made out of lemonade bottles strung together, women and children, young men, old men, with no life jackets, in the middle of nowhere, with ships going past just hundreds of yards away.
“It’s a very, very frightening environment for those people.
“The most abiding reaction of people who made this journey is just one of absolute relief to get on to a (rescue) vessel which is more suited to the conditions.”
The RNLI also released dramatic footage of a rescue in the Channel, when around a dozen distressed and shivering people on board a small dinghy were pulled to safety, in an effort to highlight the plight of those trying to make the trip.
We're proud of the lifesaving work our volunteers do in the Channel – we make no apology for it. Those we rescue are vulnerable people in danger & distress. Each of them is someone’s father, mother, son or daughter - every life is precious. This is why we launch: pic.twitter.com/lORd9NRpdP
— RNLI (@RNLI) July 28, 2021
Mr Dowie said: “This story needs to be told. It’s a very polarising issue. The humanitarian side of this has not really been told properly.
“We wanted to tell this now, our crews are becoming busier and busier with this work.
“It’s important that what they see and what they do is properly appreciated.”
READ MORE: Nigel Farage GB News report from English Channel branded 'revolting'
More than 9,000 people have crossed the Channel so far this year on board small boats, despite the dangerous journey claiming lives in the past.
In July so far, more than 3,300 have arrived in the UK in a new record for a single month, according to data analysis by PA.
Government officials fear that high numbers of crossings will continue as summer goes on, with small boat arrivals this year having already passed the total for the whole of 2020.
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