French riot police are set to employ water cannon against asylum seekers under a contentious £660 million agreement with the UK. This move has sparked outrage among refugee advocacy groups, who label it a troubling escalation of state violence against vulnerable individuals.
Deployment of Riot Police
As part of the landmark collaboration, two specialised riot units, including a 50-officer squad, have been activated to thwart asylum seekers and human traffickers attempting to cross the English Channel. The deployment was announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, where he emphasised the enhanced cooperation between the UK and France on immigration control.
Starmer stated, “These elite units are just one element of the landmark deal between our countries that is taking our collaboration to the next level.”
Controversial Use of Water Cannon
While water cannon are banned in mainland Britain due to concerns over their potential for harm and their impact on community policing, they are still permitted in Northern Ireland. Recently, they were used to disperse a violent crowd in Newtownabbey, highlighting the stark differences in policing approaches across the UK.
Refugee charity Care4Calais has expressed deep concern over the use of such tactics in France. Chief Executive Steve Smith condemned the decision, stating, “This would be a sickening escalation in the state violence being waged against refugees here in Calais.” Smith further described the UK government’s approach as treating refugees as “second-class citizens,” urging for a reevaluation of these inhumane measures.
A History of Controversy
The Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité (CRS), the French riot police, have faced scrutiny in the past, with allegations of brutality and racism surfacing during their operations. Incidents include the violent dispersal of peaceful protesters during the 2018 “gilets jaunes” demonstrations and the sharing of inappropriate messages among officers regarding migrant tragedies.
In stark contrast, former Home Secretary Theresa May ruled out the use of water cannon in the UK back in 2015, citing their capacity to cause harm. The current decision to allow French police to utilise such measures raises significant ethical questions.
Addressing the Immigration Crisis
The agreement not only involves the use of water cannon but also includes initiatives to construct new detention centres and increase maritime patrols to intercept small boats in shallow waters. The Home Office reports that joint operations have led to a 40% reduction in attempted crossings in May. However, this still resulted in 2,726 individuals making the perilous journey to the UK—down from the previous year but still alarmingly high.
Despite the funding for the CRS deployment reportedly coming from the French government, questions linger over the UK’s endorsement of these policing tactics abroad.
Why it Matters
The implications of this agreement extend far beyond the shores of France and the UK. By sanctioning the use of water cannon against asylum seekers, the UK government is setting a concerning precedent that may normalise aggressive policing tactics against some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. As the humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, the ethical ramifications of such measures demand urgent scrutiny and public discourse.
