An anti-immigration demonstration has been held outside the RNLI headquarters to demand the service stop acting as a ‘taxi service’ for asylum seekers crossing the Channel.

Dozens of campaigners gathered at the charity’s gates at their premise in Poole, Dorset, claiming its lifeboats are ‘facilitating’ illegal immigration. 

They argued it should not rest on RNLI volunteers to ‘ferry’ asylum seekers in small boats across the English Channel.  

The protesters, many of whom were draped in Union and St George’s flags, also said the RNLI could lose donations from the British public if they continued to facilitate crossings. 

However, the 50 campaigners, many of whom carrying placards reading ‘Stop the Taxi Service,’ and chanting ‘stop the boats, send them home,’ were outnumbered by almost 100 left-wing protesters from Stand Up to Racism. 

Police had to seperate the two groups after Stand Up to Racism accused their counterparts of wishing to see women and children drown in the Channel. 

Tensions also grew further after one woman wearing a St George’s flag with ‘Tommy Robinson’ written on it walked towards the rival group. She was stopped by police.

A Stand Up to Racism organiser, who gave his name as Pete, said: ‘The issue here is what they are doing is bringing economic migrants over from France and a safe Europe so they can enjoy all the benefits of being here.

Anti-immigration protesters (pictured) gathered outside the RNLI’s headquarters in Poole, demanding the service stop aiding migrants crossing the Channel

The campaigners (pictures) held Union and St George’s flags, with some carrying signs reading ‘stop the taxi service’

Police (pictured) had to seperate the two groups after Stand Up to Racism and anti-immigration protesters went to head to head in Poole

‘The RNLI is going out of its way to facilitate them by going to collect them from French waters. They have got it wrong by being a taxi service for illegal immigrants.’

This is the second anti-illegal immigration protest staged at the RNLI headquarters. Last May, 30 campaigners gathered outside the building. 

One anti-immigration attendee, who travelled from London for the event, said: ‘I think the RNLI are great and do a fabulous job.

‘The issue here is what they are doing is bringing economic migrants over from France and a safe Europe so they can enjoy all the benefits of being here.

‘The RNLI is going out of its way to facilitate them by going to collect them from French waters. They have got it wrong by being a taxi service for illegal immigrants.’

Prior to the protest, the anti-illegal immigration campaigners asserted that ‘Poole Patriots’ demands a ‘stop the taxi service.’

They said: ‘Please come and stand with us and help protect our communities and Britain.’

Counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism (pictured) accused the anti-immigration campaigners of wishing to see women and children drown in the Channel

Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade, attended the counter protest wearing a T-shirt which read, ‘you will have to go through me.’

She said: ‘The RNLI is such a special charity and my own family have twice been rescued by them.

‘They don’t ask questions first. I think it is completely disgusting the idea that an organisation should be targeted.

‘It’s part of a really slippery slope. Where does it stop? Do we expect firefighters to check passports before going into a burning building?’