HORRIFYING levels of state violence funded by British taxpayers’ money at the French border were exposed in a new report today.

The government pledged €541 million (£476m) to France in 2023 to “secure” the border, in a deal which Labour has since extended to 2027.

But research by the Humans for Rights Network (HfRN) shows that people are caught in a cruel catch-22, facing extreme violence whenever they attempt to stay or leave French soil.

HfRN found that more than 16,000 people were affected by 800 evictions at the border last year under France’s “zero point of fixation” policy. 

Police were reported to have confiscated tents, slashed them with knives and seized crucial items such as phones and medication.

Calais Food Collective regularly install water tanks at living sites to ensure people have access to water, but report that these are also often stolen by police. 

Between March and September, French association Utopia 56 recorded 680 people affected by police violence outside of crossing attempts, an average of more than three per day. 

Moussa, who lived in Calais last December, described the police as being like “soldiers but without guns.”

One man reported being beaten by the police in front of his young children, to the point that his ribs were broken.

HfRN founder Maddie Harris said: “Funding pledged through bilateral agreements with France is directly contributing to extreme violence at the hands of French police. 

“This funding should be urgently redirected to protect life and ensure the rights of people seeking safety or forced to migrate are respected.”

The report found that violence continued when people tried to leave, with an average of seven people per day impacted when trying to cross by boat to Britain.

Police were reported to have used tear gas indiscriminately on small vessels, including against babies as young as two months old, and to have routinely slashed boats on the beach and in the water.

Campaigners warned of deadly overcrowding. They say this is in part due to police interceptions, which mean that fewer boats are available, and also due to increased chaos as people attempt to escape authorities.

Victims as young as four months old died in crushing incidents last year, and 65 people died within 300 metres of the coast. 

The report warns that government policy has handed power to smugglers, as it is more difficult to cross independently. 

Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, said: “Our volunteers in Calais witness the impact of state funded violence on refugees everyday.

“From the constant cycle of police evictions, which leave people with no shelter and few belongings, to the lack of safe routes that has cost people their lives, the French and UK governments are complicit in a hostile environment that dehumanises, traumatises and sadly kills too many refugees who have fled war and persecution in the pursuit of safety.”

The report calls for an inquiry into Britain’s role in increased violence at the border.

Fizza Qureshi, CEO of the Migrants’ Rights Network, said: “Security or deterrence policies do not stop people from making the dangerous journey across the Channel. 

“Instead, they just push people into making longer, more dangerous crossings while subjecting them to violence by border enforcement.

“Instead of funding racist border policies that punish people seeking safety, we join calls for safe routes for all nationalities.”  

Asli Taliadim, head of campaigns at Refugee Action, said: “The UK government must offer routes for people to safely arrive in the UK and submit their asylum applications — this is the real route to reducing small boat crossings and protecting lives.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “France remains a critical partner in securing our borders, and our joint work has already prevented over 21,000 crossing attempts so far this year. 

“Thanks to our landmark deal, people crossing in small boats can now also be detained and removed, and the French are reviewing their Maritime Doctrine to allow officers to intervene in the water.”

France’s interior ministry was approached for comment.