Exclusive videos appear to show French authorities using tear gas to clear a migrant camp home to around 700 people in northern France.
The site, which was cleared on 10 October, was mainly home to Sudanese migrants in Calais.
The footage of the clearance was taken by the organisation Human Rights Observers (HRO) and shared with The News Movement.
HRO describe themselves as an “unofficial watchdog” observing the actions of French authorities and police towards displaced people and migrants.
Members of HRO, Madeleine and Marie, spoke with The News Movement and said there was “no warning” given beforehand that a clearance would take place.
“Legally an eviction has to come with a warning that the eviction will be occurring,” explained Marie.
“The inhabitants of the camp had no information that this eviction would happen.”
During the clearance, HRO claimed people living in the camp were taken on buses to be relocated.
French authorities said 537 people accepted shelter during the clearance and 21 people arrested.
They said the clearance at the Turquerie camp took place without incident and was attended by around 300 police officers.
They said the ‘illegal settlement’ had caused “serious problems with security, health and public peace” in the area and the living conditions for migrants was “dangerous”.
Footage taken by HRO during the clearance appears to show migrants running away from the site. HRO said people took dangerous routes, including near railway tracks, to avoid being boarded onto buses to be relocated.
A statement released by HRO and five other organisations said tear gas was used during the clearance. HRO claimed their footage shows migrants who tried to escape were chased and tackled before being handcuffed and arrested.
Madeleine said such clearances have a “materialistic impact” through the loss of belongings such as sleeping bags, tents and mobile phones as well as a “huge psychological impact” on displaced people living in northern France.
The member added: “People are getting more and more under pressure because they can’t stay in the same place because they get harassed by the police and then they also can’t move.”
Thousands of migrants and displaced people settle in northern France every year - some with the hopes of making their way to the UK.
Clearances of migrant camps happen in Calais every 36-48 hours with the aim of preventing permanent sites from developing.
Members of HRO have described this policy as “useless” as “people will come back when they don't have any choice [but] to flee to the UK."
The same site was cleared in May and June when around 350 were staying there.
The News Movement shared the footage from HRO with the Préfecture Pas-de-Calais who said the aim of authorities and police officers is to protect human life and prevent people smugglers.
The authorities said more than 700 people had illegally settled on private land and the owner of the land contacted authorities to recover the land.
Following this, an order was issued on September 15, 2023 which was posted by a bailiff on the occupied land.
The authority said during the clearance, a shelter offer was made to migrants in the camps and interpreters were on site to inform them of the conditions of this shelter.
You can watch the videos of the clearance on The News Movement's social media platforms here.