Early on 15 September 2026, officers of the Police aux Frontières (PAF) distributed leaflets to drivers at the Port of Calais before holding what they dubbed a “barbecue of anger” outside the Coquelles detention centre. The local branch of the Unité-SGP Police union claims that, despite the recent deployment of 62 extra officers, frontline teams remain under-resourced to manage the record number of attempted Channel crossings. Union delegate Marc Musiol told local radio that facilities are “obsolete and sometimes unsanitary”, hampering safe detention and processing of migrants intercepted on beaches. Officers also criticised the government’s decision to grant new bonuses to senior commissioners but not to rank-and-file border staff. Although the protest was small, it highlights the operational pressure at France’s busiest external border point. Logistics companies that use Calais ferries have already reported sporadic delays this summer as security checks intensified. If staffing grievances escalate into wider industrial action, freight schedules – and time-critical just-in-time supply chains to the UK – could again be disrupted. The Interior Ministry said it is "studying the demands" and pointed to €15 million earmarked for Calais infrastructure upgrades in the 2027 budget. Industry group TLF Overseas urged authorities to prioritise investment in biometric gates to relieve manual document checks.
Source: Radio 6 Calais
