Thousands held at UK-run French detention centres

New data sheds light on four sites shrouded in secrecy’

- CAMILLE CORCORAN HOLLY BANCROFT

Migrants attempting to make their way to Britain were held at UK-run detention sites in France more than 9,000 times last year, “alarming” new figures show.

Data obtained through freedom of information requests shows there were 9,139 detentions at the short-term holding facilities near Calais and Dunkirk from July 2023 to June 2024. The four sites – Calais tourist, Coquelles freight, Coquelles tourist, and Dunkirk – are run by the UK Border Force together with contractor Mitie Care and Custody.

They house people who have travelled on coaches and cars to French ferry ports, or people found hidden in commercial lorries. People who are stopped can be held at the sites for no more than 24 hours, after which they must be allowed to continue their journey to the UK or be handed over to French police.

The sites have been described as “legal and procedural grey zones” with “a lack of clarity, transparency and, potentially, adherence to domestic and international human rights obligations” by non-profit network the Detention Forum.

Steve Smith, CEO of refugee charity Care4Calais, said details about the sites have been “shrouded in secrecy”, adding: “Only now are we starting to learn the true scale of detentions taking place.”