Reported on: 02.06.2021

I live in the informal living space behind the Jesuit farm in Grande-Synthe.

On the night of May 31 to June 1, 2021, I left my home with thirteen other people in a car to try to get to England. We planned to hit the beach to try to cross the Channel. We left around midnight. After driving, our car broke down. When this happened we were at this location:

A white car stopped, and I saw 3 policemen get out of the car. I opened the door and as I got out of the car one of the officers hit me. I didn’t have time to talk to him. He did not say anything to me. He immediately hit me with his pistol in my right ear. I fell to the ground and my ear started to bleed. I remember there were three policemen in blue uniforms. The policeman who hit me was tall and white in colour.

The police then called for backup. More policemen arrived, I can’t remember exactly how many there were. The police told us to remain seated, without moving. No policeman notified the emergency room when I was badly injured. We sat there for about 30/40 minutes. The other people who were with me in the car were not physically injured, I was the only one who was hit by the policeman.

The police then left with the other inhabitants of the place of life in Grande-Synthe and brought them back. I stayed with my friend. I called the Utopia association. They came to get me and they took me to the Dunkirk hospital center. We arrived at the emergency room at 2:33 am. At the hospital, the medical staff cleaned my wound, then the Utopia team brought me back to the Grande-Synthe jungle. I didn’t want to stay in the hospital because I didn’t feel comfortable.

I returned to the hospital the next day, June 1st at 1:10 pm. A doctor treated me.

This policeman hit me for no reason, I would like my rights to be recognised because what he did to me is truly inhuman.