UK-France Deal Sparks Outrage as Refugee Charity Condemns Use of Banned Water Cannons. In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, French riot police deployed in northern France under a £660m deal with the UK have been authorized to use water cannons against asylum seekers. The decision has been met with outrage from a refugee charity, which has described it as "sickening." The water cannons, which are banned in Great Britain, are part of a 50-officer riot squad and a specialist policing unit working to prevent small boat crossings from launching in the region, particularly during the summer months. As the UK and France step up efforts to curb asylum seeker arrivals, concerns are growing over the potential human rights implications of this new policing strategy.
Refugee charity says decision to let riot police use water cannon, which are banned in Great Britain, is ‘sickening’French riot police deployed in northern France under a £660m deal with the UK are authorised to use water cannon against asylum seekers, the Guardian has been told.Two specialist policing units, including a 50-officer riot squad, have begun working to prevent asylum seekers and people smugglers from launching small boats under the UK-France deal in time for the summer months. Continue reading...
