The clashes saw dozens of French riot police officers in helmets and some holding shields.
Police officers clash with people thought to be migrants in Gravelines, France (Image: PA)
Dramatic footage and images show French riot police clashing with people believed to be migrants in northern France. Officers used tear gas after being pelted with petrol bombs in the town of Gravelines, east of Calais, according to reports.
Gravelines is one of the French towns at the epicentre of the Channel crossing crisis as it has become a popular launch point for migrants hoping to reach the UK in small boats. In new footage, dozens of French riot police officers in helmets — and some holding shields — can be seen in the town, with smoke rising from fires on the ground. In one clip, a large number of suspect migrants can be seen, with one appearing to throw something towards the officers.
It is not exactly clear what the individual threw in the footage which was captured by the PA news agency during clashes on Friday morning.
It is thought up to 300 migrants attempt to board small boats from Gravelines for the UK every day.
The Daily Express was in the town in the days after Paris and London agreed to a “ground-breaking” new deal designed to deter migrants from crossing the Channel.
People thought to be migrants clash with police officers in Gravelines, France (Image: PA)
However, migrants in northern France hoping to reach Britain told the Express’ Lotti O’Brien that the “one in, out deal” would not stop them from coming.
“We will try anyway,” said several men in Calais, laughing off questions about whether the new deal had changed their minds.
Under the agreement, for each small boat migrant sent back across the English Channel an asylum seeker will be allowed to enter the UK from France under a legal route.
Police officers carried shields as clashes unfolded in Gravelines (Image: PA)
Suspected migrants clashed with French police during an attempted crossing to the UK, reports say (Image: PA)
The French police, who the UK are helping to fund, have been accused of being too hands-off with the migrants but they have now been allowed to enter shallow waters to try stop the small boats from leaving for the UK.
In recent weeks, they have been filmed slashing some of the rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) as crossings reach record levels for this point in the year.
More than 21,000 migrants have crossed the Channel into the UK so far this year, according to official figures.
Almost 1,400 migrants have made the perilous journey in the seven days since last Thursday when the Government confirmed the new deal with France.
The figures, which cover up to Wednesday, show the number of arrivals has decreased each day, with no boats since Monday.
