Reported on 13.09.2025
Testimony shared by a man living in Calais, who sustained injuries caused by police violence He had a black eye and a gash on his eyebrow.
“Sunday morning, I was sitting in the center of Calais. I was drinking. Six policemen came. One of them was small, young. They took my drink and spilt it on the ground. I asked them ‘why?’, they replied ‘shut up!’, and I said ‘ok’. I have respect, but they did not give me respect.
They came and pushed me to the ground. They punched my knees and ribs with their fists.”
“I said ‘ok, I have done nothing’. Everyone looked. There were people going to the flea-market. No one said anything. After, they told me ‘dégage dégage’ (go away, go away). If I did not go, it would start again. They told me ‘run’, and threatened: ‘when you don’t run, we give you pepper spray’. I ran.
I had this, but it happened for other people after. Police officers come every day to the centre of Calais.”
(Testimony shared in English and edited for clarity)