French riot police deployed in northern France under a £660m deal with the UK are authorised to request the use of water cannon, CS gas and batons against asylum seekers, the Guardian has learned. Two specialist policing units, including a 50-officer riot squad, have begun working to prevent small boat crossings under the agreement, which is intended to curb illegal migration ahead of summer.
Refugee charity Care4Calais condemned the move, with chief executive Steve Smith calling it a 'sickening escalation in the state violence being waged against refugees.' He added: 'If the use of water cannon is prohibited in Great Britain, then we shouldn’t have a government backing its use against communities in another country.'
Water cannon, which can knock people off their feet with a high-velocity stream, are banned on the British mainland due to concerns they threaten 'policing by consent'. However, they remain available in Northern Ireland, where they were used last week to disperse anti-immigration protests. Former home secretary Theresa May ruled out their use on the mainland in 2015, telling MPs they had 'the capacity to cause harm'.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the deployment of the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité (CRS) riot squad and 75 officers from the Compagnie de Marche at the G7 summit on Wednesday. A Home Office statement said the unit is 'specially trained in the use of riot and crowd control tactics' and 'better equipped to respond to hostile crowds and evolving smuggler tactics'.
The CRS has faced allegations of brutality and racism. In February, nine officers were found guilty of beating peaceful protesters during the 'gilets jaunes' demonstrations. Leaked WhatsApp messages two years ago showed officers exchanging an image of a sinking migrant boat. The Home Office stressed that policing tactics are a matter for French authorities and that the money for the squad comes from French government funds.
Downing Street said 40% of attempted crossings in May were halted due to increased joint operations, though 2,726 people still reached Britain. Home Office sources emphasised the deal aims to 'stop illegal migrants in their tracks', with measures including a new detention centre and expanded maritime tactics.
