Human Rights Watch: French police use excessive force on Calais migrants

Record ID: 904211

  • Title: Human Rights Watch: French police use excessive force on Calais migrants
  • Date: 26th July 2017
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FRANCE DIRECTOR BENEDICTE JEANNEROD SAYING: "Police forces use pepper spray against migrants who are sleeping, or against food distribution, against the food of the migrants, for example. This is a use of force which is unjustified, which is disproportionate, and which constitutes a violation of human rights, and the protections that these people have a right to." CALAIS, FRANCE (RECENT- JUNE 26, 2017) (REUTERS) POLICE APPROACHING MIGRANTS CALAIS, FRANCE (RECENT- JUNE 27, 2017) (REUTERS) POLICE WALKING IN FIELD WHERE MIGRANTS ARE RECEIVING FOOD FROM NGOS CALAIS, FRANCE (RECENT- JUNE 28, 2017) (REUTERS) SLEEPING BAG CALAIS, FRANCE (RECENT- JUNE 26, 2017) (REUTERS) MIGRANTS IN FIELD PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FRANCE DIRECTOR BENEDICTE JEANNEROD SAYING: "What we see is the fact that these abuses are recurring, regular, we even say routine, that the local authorities do not want a point of access, or point of settlement for the asylum seekers, that the humanitarian workers are themselves harassed. We can suppose that it is a strategy on the part of national and local authorities so that the migrants and asylum seekers do not resettle in Calais, in this region." CALAIS, FRANCE (JULY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) SUB-PREFECTURE BUILDING SIGN THAT READS (French): "SUB-PREFECTURE OF CALAIS" (SOUNDBITE) (French) REPRESENTATIVE OF NATIONAL POLICE ALLIANCE UNION, FREDERIC BALLAND, SAYING: "So (this is) the nth accusation against us, against police forces in general. It's becoming tedious, tiring. But well, we know these charities, it's their trademark, to always accuse the police of violence. I can't see a police officer going and gassing a duvet or food, as has been said (in the report). We have a code of ethics, we act while respecting the law. We are professionals." MIGRANTS BY RIVER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIGRANT WHO REFUSED TO BE IDENTIFIED SAYING: "Problem, its police. France police. No sleeping, no eating, no running. Everyday, every time, France police, it's a problem. Gas, gas, everyday gas. No sleeping, spray, spray, spray. 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'" VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS QUEUING AS FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED AID WORKER POURING COFFEE FOR MIGRANT PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 26, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH FRANCE DIRECTOR BENEDICTE JEANNEROD SAYING: "We now expect the French authorities to recognise these abuses, to relay very clear signals that these abuses cannot be tolerated within the police and that they can be punished. Additionally we expect the French government to put in place a certain number of measures so that asylum seekers can make their requests in Calais, and that the different migrants in various situations of extreme vulnerability can have access to essential services."
  • Embargoed: 9th August 2017 14:00
  • Keywords: Human Rights Watch Calais police abuse asylum seekers pepper spray
  • Location: PARIS AND CALAIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS AND CALAIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA0036RCTGEF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Human Rights Watch pressed France on Wednesday (July 26) to end what it described as recurrent police violence against migrants in the northern town of Calais, where hundreds have returned despite the demolition of a sprawling camp once known as "the Jungle".
    In a report entitled "Like Living in Hell", the U.S.-based rights group said police routinely abused migrants in the hope of having them leave the coastal city.
    Based on interviews conducted with some 60 migrants in the area, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said police had used pepper spray on child and adult migrants while they were sleeping, regularly sprayed or confiscated sleeping bags and clothing, and sometimes destroyed food and water.
    Regional prefect Fabien Sudry dismissed the report, saying the accusations were unfounded. Police force was used in a proportionate fashion, he said in a statement.
    A police union representative said there have been no complaints filed in court.
    Some migrants interviewed by Reuters on Wednesday who refused to be identified confirmed that police have used pepper spray against them.
    Aid agencies and government officials estimate there are now as many as 600 migrants in the northern port area, where a vast shanty town sheltering up to 10,000 was razed by authorities last October.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register