The camp in Calais is the last stop for migrants trying to reach the UK. AFP
The camp in Calais is the last stop for migrants trying to reach the UK. AFP
The camp in Calais is the last stop for migrants trying to reach the UK. AFP
The camp in Calais is the last stop for migrants trying to reach the UK. AFP

French riot police officer found guilty of assaulting man helping migrants


Simon Rushton
  • English
  • Arabic

A French riot police officer has been given a suspended jail sentence for assaulting a British migrant-support worker in Calais.

The officer, identified only as Laurent M, knocked Tom Ciotkowski to the ground during a scuffle between British activists and the CRS riot force.

A series of allegations of police brutality towards activists and minorities has recently come to light and rights group Amnesty International said the verdict sent a “clear signal” that abuses would not be tolerated,

The officer said he acted in self-defence after Mr Ciotkowski, a council worker from Stratford, central England, shoved him in the chest and swore at him.

But the court in Boulogne-sur-Mer dismissed his story and convicted him of assault and giving false evidence.

He was handed an 18-month suspended jail term and was barred from serving for two years.

Two junior officers who had backed up his account were cleared of wrongdoing.

Mr Ciotkowski was volunteering with the group Help Refugees when the incident happened in July 2018 during a police operation aimed at removing migrants from in and around Calais.

Volunteers work with migrants at the Calais camp. Photo: Care4Calais
Volunteers work with migrants at the Calais camp. Photo: Care4Calais

“This is an important decision in a case that has become emblematic of the attacks by police on asylum seekers and the human rights defenders who support them,” said Katia Roux, Amnesty International France's advocacy director.

Several British groups work at informal camps that spring up around the northern port of Calais, a key crossing point for migrants trying to reach Britain.

The Calais camp is the last stop for thousands of migrants en route to England.

Thousands each year try to make the short, but often deadly, sail across the English Channel - one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - often using unseaworthy vessels.

Mr Ciotkowski had been put on trial in 2019 but was cleared after video footage of the attack showed he was not at fault.

The Amnesty International statement quoted Mr Ciotkowski as saying he was pleased to see justice done “after a long and stressful” three years.

“I dread to think what might have happened if myself and others were not able to film the incident. I could very well be the one being convicted today,” he said.

Prosecutor Dorothee Perrier told the court she had the “disagreeable feeling” that the officers had lied to “cover up acts of violence and justify an inconvenient arrest".


if you go

The flights

Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.

The tour

Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.

Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card

5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
  2. Westminster, London 
  3. Camden, London 
  4. Glasgow, Scotland 
  5. Islington, London 
  6. Kensington and Chelsea, London 
  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
  9. Fife, Scotland 
  10. Tower Hamlets, London 

 

Thor%3A%20Love%20and%20Thunder%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Taika%20Waititi%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Chris%20Hemsworth%2C%20Natalie%20Portman%2C%20Christian%20Bale%2C%20Russell%20Crowe%2C%20Tessa%20Thompson%2C%20Taika%20Waititi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Twin-turbocharged%204-litre%20V8%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20625%20bhp%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20630Nm%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh974%2C011%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Bio

Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride

She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.

Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years

Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves

She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in

Pakistan v New Zealand Test series

Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza

New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner

Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)

Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Temple numbers

Expected completion: 2022

Height: 24 meters

Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people

Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people

First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time

First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres  

Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres

Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor 

Updated: September 03, 2021, 7:06 AM`