A migrant mother was injured after French police reportedly ran over her leg with a beach buggy in July, according to a charity that supports migrants' rights.
Utopia 56, a French charity, said the woman was hit as she tried to board a small boat to the UK. The incident allegedly occurred on a northern French beach while police were racing across the sand in the buggy to intercept a group of migrants attempting a small boat launch.
Increase in complaints against French police
Utopia 56 claims there has been an increase in police violence in recent months. Data from the charity shows that 2,720 people have made complaints against French officers so far this year, compared with 1,954 over the same period last year.
The charity said British-funded French units are using increasingly pro-active and aggressive tactics to stop migrants from crossing the Channel.
Border security deal and its impact
The UK and France signed a three-year border security deal worth £662 million in July to stop illegal migrant small boat crossings. It will see ground enforcement and military personnel deployed in France increase from 907 to 1,392 by 2029.
The UK is also funding a specialised riot squad of 50 French officers to manage beach departures. They will be trained in crowd-control tactics to manage groups of migrants attempting to board boats to Britain.
Recent data shows that officers in France stopped 185 "small boat crossing events" in the three months after the deal was signed in April. They stopped boat launches, seized equipment, including lifejackets and engines, and arrested smugglers.
Concerns over aggressive tactics
There are concerns that French police officers are using increased violence to stop migrants setting off to the UK. Utopia 56 argues that increased border security measures result in more dangerous crossings and migrant deaths.
Angele Vettorello, Utopia 56's advocacy co-ordinator, said: "The French and UK governments claim to be saving lives through police operations.
"All we see, however, are entire teams in riot gear, dangerous driving, sometimes lethal weapons used without regard for the vulnerability of those present, and tear gas canisters fired indiscriminately, including in dune areas during a heat wave."
"Only a complete overhaul of the asylum system in Europe and the opening of safe passage routes for everyone will put an end to the business model of smuggling networks – which, incidentally, allows governments to shirk their responsibility for the situation at the border – while preventing people from risking their lives."
