Macron hits back at criticism of police treatment of migrants
(dpa)
Paris - Allegations of mistreatment of migrants, especially in Calais, are nothing more than an attack on French migration policy, says President Emmanuel Macron, defending the country's security forces.
On a visit to the English Channel port, where hundreds of migrants hoping to cross illegally to Britain camp out, Macron told security forces that he could not accept allegations that police confiscated migrants' blankets, roused them repeatedly at night, or misused tear gas.
"The inaccuracies, sometimes lies, often manipulations, about your action in Calais have only one purpose - to attack the government's migration policy," he said.
Macron warned that unsubstantiated allegations against security forces could lead to legal actions for defamation, but that any verified abuses would be punished.
"The inaccuracies, sometimes lies, often manipulations, about your action in Calais have only one purpose - to attack the government's migration policy," he said.
Macron warned that unsubstantiated allegations against security forces could lead to legal actions for defamation, but that any verified abuses would be punished.