Key facts
- Utopia 56 reports a rise in alleged French police violence against migrants attempting Channel crossings.
- The NGO documented 2,720 reported incidents of violence this year, up from 1,954 in the same period last year.
- At least 21 people have died attempting to cross the Channel this year.
- A UK-France deal involves a riot squad to prevent crossings, with reports of beatings and teargas use.
- The UK Home Office claims increased enforcement has prevented over 48,000 crossing attempts and reduced crossings by 40% this year.
French police are accused of an increasing use of violence to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel to the UK, according to a report by the French NGO Utopia 56. The organization states that 2,720 people have reported experiencing police violence this year, a significant rise from 1,954 in the same period last year, despite overall lower crossing numbers.
Utopia 56 claims that enhanced enforcement activities on French beaches, partly funded by the UK, have made the crossings more perilous and disorganized, leading to at least 21 deaths this year. The NGO labels the UK and French governments as the 'architects of this chaos' and advocates for an overhaul of the European asylum system and the creation of safe routes to deter illegal crossings and dismantle smuggling operations.
Under a recent £660 million agreement between the UK and France, a riot squad has been deployed to intercept boats. Reports detailed by Utopia 56 include allegations of beatings, teargas deployment, and a case where a woman's leg was run over by a gendarmerie buggy. The NGO also documented instances of families being separated during these enforcement actions.
The report, titled 'Behind the figures: violent practices, the human cost of repression on the French coast,' was released in response to UK Home Office statements highlighting the success of increased enforcement in reducing crossings. The Home Office reported that crossings have decreased by over 40% this year compared to the same period in 2022, with July seeing the lowest numbers since 2020. French officers reportedly prevented 185 boats and over 4,300 individuals from crossing between late April and early August.
Utopia 56 counters that intercepted individuals do not disappear, contrary to government claims. While the Home Office noted the seizure of equipment like boats and engines, the NGO argues that confiscating lifejackets increases the risk of drowning. The report criticizes the policy as being 'driven by statistics' with a focus on stopping boats, disregarding the human suffering and the 'excesses of the security operation.'