To think the RNLI are 100% in the right

[SanFranBear]

I've just seen this story on the BBC news homepage where the RNLI are being accused of acting as a taxi service for migrants trying to enter the UK on small boats from Europe.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8dejyg4l37o

The organisation and volunteers quite rightly have responded to say they make no apologies for saving lives at sea and that their work has no political motivation.

Damn straight - one of the volunteers further down the article explains the profound impact he feels of encountering people struggling in our waters.

It makes me wonder what critics of the service expect them to do - just sail away, leaving the people to die? Pick them up and cross the channel to dump them back 'where they came from'?

What is wrong with them? Where is their compassion? Regardless of your thoughts on immigration, this is so cold and inhuman....

They are an amazing organisation and of course they are right.

Farage is an odious little frogspawn. I thank him at least for reminding me to donate. Saving Lives At Sea. Full stop. What the fuck else is the alternative?
"Before we rescue you, can you just show us your passport?"

It reminds me of the stories about captain tom raising all that money for the NHS. Amazing brilliant well done. Thank you. Same for the RNLI people. Great thank you.

However the root cause is the government not doing their job properly. They shouldn’t be let off the hook because the public is grateful to individuals and organisations that fill in the terrible gvt gaps.

I totally agree. I remember the comedians Smith and Jones did a sketch e
where there was a list of fatalities/ injuries- can't remember. It was done in a hierarchy. Think some animals were placed above certain nationalities. It was clearly a dig and not comedy. Got my teenage brain thinking back then

Well yeah but this is why this will never stop. Come clean and say you want open borders without consequences. I believe the people coming pay thousands to smugglers to cross. Do they know the risks? I personally do not care but find ridiculous people complain about lack of services and housing and crime while at the same time support open borders.

This

Of course they should take them back, as should Border Force.

We do not need illegal immigrants in this country; we have enough crime as it is without people entering the country illegally and using ours scarce resources (NHS, housing, taxes etc).

Add to that the statistics from across Europe that show the huge pro rata increase in rapes and sex crimes against women by illegals. It's no wonder RNLI and Border Force is largely men who do not care about women's safety that ferry the illegals unnecessarily to the UK, they do not give a stuff about women's safety.

Anyone who accuses them of being a taxi service is a cunt

Rubbish. Try talking to some legal immigrants, they are non too keen on illegals too.
Personally I do not like criminals of any hue. And yes illegals are criminals for not following the laws of the land by enteriung illegally. I am sick of the cess pit of crime the UK has descended into.

RNLI are absolutely amazing! Anyone who voluntarily puts their lives at risk to save others gets my full support and respect . Always donate to them when I can. These knuckle draggers would soon be phoning for their help if they were in trouble at sea !

There are right. But they shouldn’t be put in the situation in first place, or rather repeatedly to the crazy extent it is now.

To me, turning around and deliberately leaving someone to drown at sea when you have the means to save them should be an offence like death through negligence etc.

It absolutely galls me that some countries take this policy and will leave vulnerable people to die in order to make a feeble stand against people smuggling which is what the real issue is.

Don't be absurd. I never said that. I want the government to make a donation on behalf of the public for the work they are doing clearing up a government mess.

I'm not sure what point you're making here - this isn't about our borders, or removing consequences for people crossing the channel. These rescued people (a whopping 58 according to the article!) are still 'put into the system'.

My issue is around how some people are totally lacking in compassion and voicing this openly!

Absolutely right. It’s what’s called ‘being human’.

I'm curious at what point the non-knuckle-draggers would say enough is enough. Would you be comfortable if the numbers of small boat migrants doubled? How about a factor of 10? Or 100? At what point would you acknowledge that we have a problem?

We live on the south coast. Following Farages comments, we signed up to donate monthly. My view is that those in the boats are victims of poverty and exploitation, regardless of refuge status.
However, if I venture onto any local Facebook groups, it's full of "new homes are only available to people who get here in boats" and similar.

So you’re saying let them die by drowning? Just steer away from them?

Please quote the exact sentence where I said that.

I think I’m your neighbour…

I challenge so many people.

I don't think YABU but there were days in May this year where there were a record number of crossings via the channel. The coastguard had to call on civilian fishermen to help a yacht and kayakers in trouble because it was too busy assisting migrant crossings. It's unsustainable and dangerous for all involved.

I 100% support the RNLI and come from a long line of RNLI volunteers.

I think anyone who puts a child in a boat to cross the channel knowing that the child is at risk of drowning should be charged with negligence and if the child does actually drown, as some have, should be charged with manslaughter.

No one NEEDS to cross the channel in a small boat.

Yes but the RNLI cannot decide who to help and who not to help based on nationality. Our lifeguards and coastguards are volunteers. They are amazing people who repeatedly put their lives at risk in order to help others. That would be a terrible burden to place on them.

Could you send a link to that? Are you saying they chose migrants above kayakers? Or they chose to delegate less risky recoveries to people able to help?

Those people could’ve of course said .. no.