Key Takeaways
- The UK’s policy to stop asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in small boats has led to an increase in violence, deaths, and smuggler control.
- The use of rubber bullets and teargas by French police has been documented, along with testimonies from asylum seekers and professionals.
- Despite the money spent by the UK government to prevent crossings, they remain at a high level, with over 39,000 people crossing the Channel in dinghies so far this year.
- The report calls for a statutory inquiry into the increase in deaths and violence, along with the establishment of safe routes.
- The UK and French governments have been accused of handing over the fundamental right of access to asylum to organized criminal networks.
Introduction to the Report
The UK’s policy to stop asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in small boats has been criticized by human rights organizations, who claim that it has led to an increase in violence, deaths, and smuggler control. A 176-page report by the Humans for Rights Network, which includes contributions from 17 refugee and human rights organizations operating in northern France and six in the UK, details the use of rubber bullets and teargas by French police, who have been given hundreds of millions of pounds by the UK to secure the UK border. The report also includes testimonies from asylum seekers and professionals, including doctors who treat those trying to reach the UK.
The Use of Force by French Police
The report documents the use of force by French police, including the use of rubber bullets and teargas. In 2024, the organization Human Rights Observers documented 28 violent police operations targeting transport networks used by asylum seekers in northern France, resulting in at least 44 arrests. The organization also observed more than 800 evictions of living sites affecting at least 16,365 people. The French association Utopia 56 found that between March and September 2025, 680 people were affected by police violence in northern France at times when they were not attempting to cross the Channel.
The Increase in Violence and Deaths
The report highlights the increase in violence and deaths at the UK-France border. In 2024, there were a record 89 deaths recorded of people trying to cross the Channel. The report also documents an increase in violence by people smugglers, who routinely carry guns. At least four people have been shot dead in and around a camp in Dunkirk so far in 2025, and one 16-year-old autistic boy had a gun held to his head by smugglers. The charity Médecins du Monde said that 88% of the medical treatment it provided was for conditions linked to people’s poor living conditions.
The Impact on Asylum Seekers
The report highlights the impact of the UK’s policy on asylum seekers, who are being forced to rely on people smugglers to cross the Channel. By allowing smuggling networks to decide who is and isn’t allowed to cross, the UK and French governments have handed over the fundamental right of access to asylum to these organized criminal networks. The report states that "reinforced securitisation does not operate as a deterrent but instead makes it increasingly dangerous for people to cross the border." One doctor from a clinic in Calais which treats people waiting to cross the Channel said that fuel burns from dinghy engines were not uncommon, particularly to lower legs and feet, resulting in some people’s feet being "macerated" inside their shoes.
Response from the UK Government
The Home Office has responded to the report, stating that the number of small boat crossings is "shameful" and that the British people deserve better. A spokesperson said that France remains a critical partner in securing our borders, and that their joint work has already prevented over 21,000 crossing attempts so far this year. However, the report’s authors argue that the UK’s policy is not working and that a new approach is needed. Lily MacTaggart from Humans for Rights Network said: "The violence at the UK-France border is endemic, causing acute emotional distress and significant damage to people’s health. The UK and France are both responsible for funding this violence, implementing policies which abuse human rights and in some cases have caused death."
Conclusion and Recommendations
The report calls for a statutory inquiry into the increase in deaths and violence, along with the establishment of safe routes. The authors argue that the current policy is not working and that a new approach is needed. The report states that "this investigation should seek to establish how UK funding contributed to the increase in violence including the rise in the power of smugglers in response to heightened security and lack of safe routes." The authors also argue that the UK and French governments must take responsibility for the violence and deaths at the UK-France border and work to establish a more humane and effective approach to asylum policy.
