The RNLI has suspended services in Portsmouth after its volunteers suffered physical and online abuse in the wake of anti-migrant protests in the city. 

Hard-Right demonstrators have targeted the charity following its rescue work bringing migrants ashore.

The volunteers were branded as 'traitors' and some had their details published online. 

As a result, Portsmouth Lifeboat Station has been forced to take down its Facebook page while RNLI volunteers have been advised to stop wearing its badge in public to avoid confrontations with anti-migrant protesters. 

The station, located in the Eastney area of the city, has now not been in active use since September 10, it has emerged. 

The RNLI said it has taken measures to ensure the safety of the city's waters while it is out of service.

It comes after two RNLI all-weather lifeboats, deployed from the Isle of Wight, landed at Eastney Point on September 6, after picking up 120 migrants who were attempting to cross the Channel from France.

As reports of the boats landing spread, demonstrators flocked to the area to demonstrate against the arrival of the migrants.

Multiple protesters have since been charged with violent disorder as a result of the late-night march, with several police officers treated for injuries at the scene.

The RNLI has been on the receiving end of a large amount of physical and online abuse after it brought the migrants to shore and volunteers have even been told not to wear their uniform and branded clothing in public.

Video posted on social media showed volunteers being labelled 'traitors', while threatening posts on X named crew members. 

Poole Old Lifeboat Museum has closed after several incidents of anti-migrant protesters verbally assaulting their volunteers.

Chief executive Peter Sparkes criticised abusive posters who 'hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard' and said their 'action is wholly unacceptable'.

He added: 'Recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel. Sadly, as a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in the worst cases, physical abuse.'

A spokesman for the charity said: 'Portsmouth Lifeboat Station has been temporarily off service since September 10.

'We hope to have the lifeboat station back on service as soon as possible.

'Search and rescue cover continues to be provided through established contingency arrangements, including flank RNLI stations and other declared assets.

'At times, it is not unusual for lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland to be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or other operational requirements.

'In such circumstances, established contingency arrangements are put in place to ensure continued search and rescue cover.'   

Anti-immigration protesters have even directed abuse at Britain's leading blindness charity, accusing it of helping small boat migrants after mistaking it for the RNLI. 

The Royal National Institute of Blind People was forced to issue a statement that they are 'not the lifeboat people' following threats. 

The charity posted online: 'For absolute certainty, we're the Royal National Institute of Blind People, not the lifeboat people.' 

In response the RNLI joked: 'This is also your friendly reminder that we can't give you eye-health advice.'  

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has vowed to strengthen the law on 'doxxing', which involves leaking home addresses, after lifeboat volunteers involved in migrant crossing rescues had their personal details published online.

The Labour MP said she would 'tighten up the law' to make it a criminal offence.

Ms Nandy held a meeting with social media firms on Tuesday afternoon to discuss such abuse. 

She called Elon Musk's social media platform X an 'utter disgrace' after executives failed to attend a meeting about the online abuse of lifeboat volunteers. 

Ms Nandy said the US tech billionaire's company had not responded to the invitation to discuss the issue.