French security forces have received a direct order to cease employing riot control weapons, including rubber bullets and tear gas, in operations aimed at stopping migrants from attempting to cross the English Channel to Britain. The country's independent human rights authority, the Defender of Rights, has issued a stark warning that such tactics endanger lives and have already contributed to fatalities and severe injuries among vulnerable people.
Human Rights Watchdog Condemns Dangerous Tactics
Claire Hédon, who holds the senior advisory role on human rights to the French government in Paris, has strongly criticised the use of armed force in these situations. Her leaked report to the newspaper Le Monde states unequivocally that while preventing dangerous sea crossings is a legitimate objective, it cannot justify any means. "The objective of preventing departures is understandable given the danger of the crossing, and law enforcement plays a protective role, but this cannot be done at any cost," she wrote.
Specific Weapons Under Scrutiny
The report specifically condemns the deployment of so-called 'flash ball' guns that fire rubber projectiles, alongside tear gas and stun grenades, against groups that sometimes include children. Tear gas is notably prohibited in warfare under international chemical weapons conventions, yet remains in frequent use by police across France. Hédon argues that when the sole aim of officers is to stop people boarding vessels, these weapons should be entirely excluded from their arsenal.
"The use of intermediate force weapons endangers people," she emphasised, noting that such interventions often occur under cover of darkness, potentially violating principles of proportionality and transparency. Her concerns are amplified by reports that police body cameras are routinely switched off during these incidents and that detailed official reports following violent engagements are seldom filed.
Incidents and Lack of Accountability
Documented cases highlight the issue. In August 2023, migrant children were among those affected by police tactics at Sangatte near Calais. More recently, on April 26, 2024, officers admitted firing 10 rubber bullet rounds and using 37 tear gas grenades near Gravelines against migrants throwing rocks. That same month, police prevented a boat departure at Oye-Plage using 14 tear gas grenades, one stun grenade, and eight rubber bullet rounds, yet no subsequent report was produced.
Political and Financial Context
This directive arrives amid ongoing political pressure from many British politicians for stricter French law enforcement on Channel crossings. France has received approximately £500 million from the UK to help tackle the issue, which saw around 42,000 people make the perilous journey in inflatable boats organised by smugglers in 2025 alone, with most seeking asylum. Since 2022, there have been 40 complaints about police violence, largely submitted by the migrant charity Utopia 56.
Hédon has called for the establishment of a clear "intervention doctrine" to ensure stricter control and oversight of how police treat migrants, aiming to prevent further harm and uphold human rights standards in these tense border operations.
