French Ombudsman Questions Use of Force Against Migrants
The institution led by Claire Hédon in France has issued a severe criticism of the methods used by law enforcement at the English Channel border. It denounces the resort to intermediate force weapons to prevent migrants from attempting to cross, a practice it considers disproportionate and dangerous. 🚫
Denunciation of Disproportionate Tactics
According to the presented report, agents use rubber projectile launchers, tear gases, and stun grenades in situations where there is no violent threat from the groups. Most alarmingly, these actions occur even when children are present, increasing the risk of causing serious harm. Hédon argues that these tactics violate the basic principles of necessity and proportionality that must govern any intervention.
Specific Practices Highlighted:- Using rubber bullets and gases against groups not acting aggressively.
- Launching incapacitating grenades in the presence of minors.
- Endangering lives by using excessive force for a deterrence objective.
These practices endanger lives and violate the principles of necessity and proportionality that must govern the use of force.
Opacity in Border Operations
The Ombudsman's institution also highlights a serious problem of lack of transparency. It points out that during these interventions, agents do not wear body cameras and the reports detailing how and why force is used are insufficient. This opacity prevents effective oversight of what the police forces do and hinders accountability for their actions.
Identified Control Issues:- Total absence of video recording with portable cameras.
- Deficient official documentation on force-use incidents.
- Difficulty in auditing and tracking border actions.
Recommendations for a Change in Doctrine
To address this situation, the Ombudsman proposes concrete measures. The main one is to prohibit the use of these weapons when the sole purpose is to stop departures. Additionally, it calls for establishing a clear operational doctrine that strictly limits their use and demands the implementation of systematic use of cameras in all interventions. The ultimate goal is to protect fundamental rights and ensure that any use of force is duly justified and documented. It seems that the current deterrence strategy prioritizes forceful tools over protecting vulnerable people, an approach that may require more oversight than armament. 👁️