"Police are pelted with stones practically every night. We're short of cars because they're vandalised by migrants, who the smugglers and traffickers order to throw stones at us to slow us down. I have colleagues who are regularly injured, who go to hospital because they're doing this job. We use grenades and tear gas to stop the migrants, but they throw stones, smoke bombs and burning life jackets at us."
"All our vehicles are damaged. We're practically out of ammunition. It's not easy every day, every single day. Last year, two night-shift officers were surrounded by migrants and almost got burned to death. The migrants had set fire to the place with bottles of petrol. They were dog handlers. Two against 60. They risked their lives to prevent a boat from reaching England. Is it worth dying burned alive to let a boat pass? Would you?"
At least 500 more migrants crossed the English Channel from the French coast, adding to a surge that included 1,097 crossings in 17 boats on Saturday. French police representatives in Calais and Dunkirk say the force is disjointed and too dysfunctional to stop small boats despite roughly £800 million in UK funding. Officers report frequent violent attacks, vandalism of vehicles, shortages of cars and ammunition, and use of grenades and tear gas while migrants respond with stones, smoke bombs and burning life jackets. Union leaders call for better equipment, direct communication between units, and improved coordination to counter smugglers.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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