France and UK ‘failing to tackle anti-migrant activists’

UK and French authorities have been accused of “encouraging violent and xenophobic practices” by failing to tackle anti-migrant British activists who travel to northern France in an attempt to stop small boat crossings.

In an unusual move, nine French associations working with people camped in northern France have issued a statement condemning the UK and French governments for lack of action.

The group Raise the Colours, which has organised the hanging of St George and union flags on lamp-posts and other street furniture across the UK, has launched Operation Overlord, a reference to the Normandy landings in the second world war.

On Friday, members of the group were in France targeting migrants for harassment and searching for dinghies buried in sand dunes to destroy. Some were detained by French police for their actions.

The French association Utopia 56, which works on beaches in northern France where migrants try to cross the Channel, reported them to the police.

“They were detained for several hours before being released,” a Utopia 56 spokesperson said. “We have been monitoring the social media accounts of these various groups daily and reporting them to the public prosecutor and prefecture.

“However, even though we hear our alerts are taken seriously, to date nothing has been done to prevent them from coming to the beaches along the coast. When the far right advances unchecked, human rights erode.”

According to Raise the Colours on social media, 5,500 people have offered to go to France to intervene to “stop the boats”, something it says the UK and French authorities are failing to do.

Raise the Colours has circulated appeals for stab-proof vests, plate carriers, high-powered torches, thermal cameras, drones and encrypted radios. It defines itself as a “true professional civilian border control force, ready to take control of the beaches”. One man who said he was ex-army posted a call to “ex-squaddies” to go and patrol the French beaches 24/7.

The group has livestreamed footage of its activities on the coast of northern France on social media.

The Home Office has urged groups such as Raise the Colours not to take the law into their own hands.

The French organisations that issued the statement include L’Auberge des Migrants, Utopia 56, Medecins du Monde, Human Rights Observers and the Refugee Women’s Centre. They have accused the British and French authorities of a “seriously inadequate response” to the arrival in France of Raise the Colours supporters.

They state: “Structured intimidation tactics, reported, yet without an effective response from the authorities.

“None of their publications aimed at recruiting, informing and funding their activities have been removed and none of them have been subject to any measures denying them entry to French territory. These inaction measures contribute to normalising and encouraging violent and xenophobic practices that directly threaten exiled people and their support organisations.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We recognise the frustration surrounding small boat crossings. However, taking the law into your own hands will not resolve the issue.

“The home secretary has announced the biggest reforms to tackle illegal migration in decades, to restore order and control to our borders and make it less attractive for illegal migrants to come to Britain.”

Home Office sources said France was reviewing its maritime doctrine to strengthen its ability to intercept small boats in the water and that a new unit would be established in Dunkirk to expedite prosecutions of smugglers.

The French interior ministry has been approached for comment.

Raise the Colours has also been contacted for a response.